Hospital and Physician Update

September – October 2019

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Each year, more than 41,000 individuals die by suicide, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. That’s why NAMI has designated September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

It’s a time for sharing information and resources about this public health crisis as part of an effort to decrease suicide rates. In addition to the resources provided by NAMI, we encourage you to check out:

• A column by Dr. William Beecroft in this issue of Hospital and Physician Update, providing an update on the suicide crisis and its effects on young people.
• A column by Dr. Kristyn Stewart in BCN Provider News, on how primary care physicians can help prevent suicide.
• The Mental health awareness section of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Engage page, which offers an array of resources for sharing with employees and patients. Resources include articles and posters about suicide prevention and awareness.
• Our MI Blues Perspectives blog, which includes posts on topics such as the shortage of behavioral health providers in rural Michigan and how we can change the language we use to discuss suicide to reduce stigma.

We’ll also address the issue of suicide prevention and awareness on our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.

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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.