You Are Not Alone

As leaders, colleagues, friends, and community members, we cannot ignore the growing mental health crisis. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and within it, September 8 is 988 Day—a day to highlight the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a resource designed to meet this crisis head-on.

Since its launch in 2022, 988 has transformed access to support. In a moment of emotional pain or crisis, three digits connect people directly to trained counselors—free, confidential, and available 24/7. This simple shift makes help more accessible than ever before. But here’s the challenge: too few people know about it.

That’s where we come in. Awareness is leadership. By talking openly about 988, we normalize reaching out for help. By sharing the number, we ensure more people know where to turn. By modeling compassion in our networks, workplaces, and communities, we create a ripple effect that can save lives.

This 988 Day, I encourage you to:

• Save 988 in your phone.

• Share it with your colleagues, friends, and family.

• Speak up about mental health. Silence can cost lives; conversation can save them.

Mental health is not a private issue—it’s a collective one. And leadership means leaning into the hard conversations, not away from them.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please remember: Dial 988. You are not alone.