Capitol News

As people struggle with the isolation of and the economic damage from the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has an important message.

“You are not alone,” Sarah Schang, a board member of the group’s Michigan chapter, told WJR's "The Frank Beckmann Show." “Talk to someone. Have a real conversation," she suggested.

Although statistics are not in yet on COVID-19’s impact on the suicide rate, it’s clear that the pandemic has affected the mental health of everyone, according to Schang.

“But the important thing is to stay connected,” Schang told Beckmann.

COVID-19 has forced the foundation to shift its outreach strategies.

“We’ve changed our methodologies quite a bit in how we reach people,” she said on the radio program. “Because a lot of our outreach had occurred in person, at events. But now it’s a lot about social media.”

Educational programs have been shifted to virtual platforms instead of in-person only, she explained.

“We have hosted smaller events where contact with people is minimal,” Schang said on the show. “We’ve upped our social media game. We’ve done everything in our power to connect with people, even though physically we can’t connect with them.”

The group’s mission is to “save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide,” Schang told Beckmann. Its goal is to reduce suicides in the United States by 20% over the next five years.

It’s important for friends and family members to be aware of the signs of mental health challenges and to be willing to have conversations with those who are struggling, she said.

“One of our main goals that we have is to reduce the stigma around mental health,” Schang told Beckmann. “We actually have educational programs that we can bring into schools, workplaces, PTA groups, anywhere, that teach everybody what signs to look for and how to have these conversations.” 

For more information, visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.