September is National Suicide Awareness Month. The goal surrounding the month is to promote awareness of the common warning signs. Suicide is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), warning signs for potential suicide risk include if someone: • is feeling sad or withdrawn • is seriously trying to harm themselves • is behaving risky or out of control • experience sudden overwhelming fear for no reason • has significant weight loss or gain • is hallucinating • abuses drugs or alcohol • exhibits drastic changes in mood and personality has extreme difficulty in concentrating • experiences intense worries that get in the way of daily activities If someone is showing these signs, NAMI has advice on how to be there for that person in that time of need. NAMI suggests starting a conversation with them, offering support, and being a friend. “We observe…