Suicide is a significant cause of death in many countries, in some cases exceeding deaths by motor vehicle accidents annually. Many countries spend vast amounts of money on safer roads, but very little on suicide awareness and prevention, or on educating people about how to make good life choices.

Attempts at suicide, or suicidal thoughts and feelings, are usually a symptom indicating that a person isn't coping, often as a result of some event or series of events that they personally find overwhelmingly traumatic or distressing. In many cases, the events in question will pass, their impact can be mitigated, or their overwhelming nature will gradually fade, if the person is able to make constructive choices about dealing with the crisis when it is at its worst.

Since this can be extremely difficult, this is an attempt to raise awareness about suicide, so that we might be better able to recognize and help other people in crisis, and also to find how to seek help or make better choices ourselves.

National Suicide Prevention Week will be observed Sept. 10-16.

Too often, we blame the suicide victim and stigmatize the surviving family members and friends. These reactions add to the survivors' burden of hurt, intensify their isolation and shroud suicide in secrecy.

Unfortunately, secrecy and silence diminish the accuracy and amount of information available about persons who have completed suicide — information that might help prevent other suicides.

Talk to a friend who you are worried about; reach out to someone if you're worried about yourself. By opening a dialogue and treating mental illness as seriously as we treat physical illness, you'll be showing people that they are not alone, that what they are experiencing is nothing to be ashamed of and is not their fault, that with treatment they can regain the life they once dreamed of for themselves, and that life is not over.

What are the warning signs that someone might be feeling suicidal? These again are as varied as the individual, but some common signs are: withdrawal, loss of interest in usual activities, hopelessness, changes in energy and sleep patterns, making negative statements about self, talking about suicide, putting affairs in order, and previous attempts.

If someone you know tells you that he or she is feeling suicidal, above all listen to that person. Then listen some more.

Tell the person, "I don't want you to die." Don't try to "rescue them" or to take their responsibilities onboard yourself, or try to be a hero by trying to handle the situation on your own.

You can be the most help by referring the person to someone equipped to offer the help needed.

Locally, there are many resources available to assist someone who is unable to cope. Please become aware of these resources before the need arises.

All one needs to do is look in the local telephone book or talk to family members and friends. Anyone needing help may contact the crisis intervention team at the Center for Community Resources at 800-292-3866. This is a free call from anywhere and is a 24-hours, 7-days-a-week phone number.

The Grapevine Mental Health Drop-In Center has a Warmline where someone can call and just talk; however, the people who answer the phones have been trained to aid someone in getting the help needed, if that person is in crisis.

The Warmline is open every day from 7 to 10 p.m. People can call 866-431-2489 or 724-431-2488.