September is National Suicide Prevention Month.

If you are struggling, you are not alone and support is available right now. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any hour of any day. Prince William County residents can also reach Community Crisis Services at 703-792-4900 for local crisis support in east Prince William and 703-792-7800 in west Prince William.

Most of us may never need to be on the phone with a crisis counselor but many of us will be the person who notices when something isn’t right. A neighbor who has gone quiet. A coworker who seems off. A friend who stopped answering. You do not need training to check on someone. Ask directly. Listen without rushing to fix it. Stay with them while they connect to help.

To anyone carrying something heavy today, reaching out is not weakness. Please make the call.