Breaking the cycle of silence: Spread hope during Suicide Prevention Month
By Stacy Parmer, MOLAP director
Note: If you are in an emergency situation, please call 911. Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, 24/7 support.
My uncle died by suicide when I was young. I can't remember how I found out he’d had a fatal suicide attempt. I just remember how odd it was that no one in the family really spoke about it, and any questions we had were always dismissed or ignored.
The silence surrounding his death echoed through our family gatherings throughout the years and made me realize this silence was not just about our loss; it was a collective avoidance of topics that our society often ignores, which are the reality of mental health struggles and the need for suicide awareness.
As I grew older, the absence of open dialogue about my uncle's death led me into the mental health field to explore the psychology of human emotion and behavior. I wanted to understand what led him to take his life.
Today, decades later, I think of my uncle often. I reflect on the effect his death had on our family and what might be different if we had talked about it. By practicing suicide prevention awareness, we can break the cycle of silence surrounding suicide and speak openly about mental health with compassion and empathy, honoring those we have lost while creating a safe space for others to seek help and find hope.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time dedicated to fostering dialogue around mental health and taking actionable steps toward preventing suicide. This month serves as a reminder that mental health is health, and each one of us plays a role in promoting awareness, combating stigma, and encouraging those in our lives to seek support.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 730,000 people die by suicide each year, which translates to one person every 40 seconds1. Missouri has the 15th-highest suicide rate in the nation, and the majority of fatal suicide attempts are individuals between the ages of 25-64, with male suicides being 4x higher than females.2
“Lawyers are prone to mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse which are strongly linked to suicide risk,” stated a 2023 study.3 An estimated 11% percent of lawyers in the U.S. have experienced suicidal thoughts. Just like physical health, mental health requires attention, care, and support.
One of the most significant barriers to effective suicide prevention in the legal profession is the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Many lawyers fear being judged or ostracized if they admit to struggling with their mental health. This stigma can deter them from seeking the help they need, leading to tragic consequences.
The legal profession must collectively work to dismantle this stigma by creating an environment where mental health discussions are normalized. By sharing personal stories, whether they are your own experiences or those of someone close, you can help others feel less alone and more understood. One of the most important aspects of suicide prevention is encouraging individuals to seek support through friends, family, or mental health professionals. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength and hope.
Please join us as we support and discuss suicide prevention awareness. The Missouri Bar’s Standing Committee on Well-being in the Profession and The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program are sponsoring a virtual no-cost CLE documentary, “Suicide: The Ripple Effect” at 4 p.m. Sept. 24, with a live discussion panel immediately following.
You can volunteer, donate, or participate in one of the five Out of the Darkness community suicide prevention walks led by your colleagues in one of the cities linked below:
- St. Louis, Sept. 28 – Creve Coeur Lake Park, led by Daniel Barnett-Foster in conjunction with the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis.
- Joplin, Oct. 4 – Landreth Park, led by Johnny Boyer.
- Greene County, Sept. 27 – Battlefield City Park, led by Erica Mynarich.
- Kansas City, Oct. 4 – English Landing Park, led by Lillian Mehler.
- Columbia, Oct. 19 – Bethel Park, led by Stacy Parmer.
MOLAP is offering two crisis response trainings on Sept. 10 and 24 from noon-1:30 p.m.
Resources:
Contact MOLAP at molap@mobar.org or by calling 1-800-688-7859.
Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Learn more at 988lifeline.org.
Learn more about the National Out of the Darkness Walks and Suicide Prevention Month from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: afsp.org.
Endnotes:
1 Suicide, World Health Organization, (March. 25, 2025), https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide.
2 Suicide in Missouri: Where We Stand 2023, Missouri Department of Mental Health, https://dmh.mo.gov/media/pdf/suicide-missouri-where-we-stand-0.
3 Patrick R. Krill et al., Stressed, Lonely, and Overcommitted: Predictors of Lawyer Suicide Risk, 11 HEALTHCARE 536, (2023).