Governor Mike Parson has proclaimed Sunday, September 5 through Saturday, September 11, 2021, as Suicide Prevention Week in Missouri.

The Department of Mental Health (DMH)- in partnership with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR), other state agencies and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration- are committed to sharing resources, helping those in need, and promoting suicide prevention awareness.

In Missouri, more than 1,100 people die by suicide each year, an average of one person every seven hours. Suicide rates are also significantly higher in the industries of mining, construction, agriculture and forestry and transportation and warehousing.

Governor Parson says, “Taking a proactive approach to suicide prevention by learning risk factors and warning signs is one of the ways we can all work to reduce suicide attempts and deaths. This public health issue is a tragedy that impacts not only individuals and families, but entire communities. Suicide can disproportionately impact Missouri’s youth as well as some of our leading business sectors. It’s important to always check on your loved ones, have the tough conversations, and seek help – lives could be at stake and the loss preventable.”

Those in immediate crisis can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255) or by texting “MOSAFE” to 741741.