(WSIL) -- It's Suicide Prevention Awareness month, a topic that's not often talked about.
Local health officials say suicide and suicide attempts also impact family and friends.
News 3 spoke with Chuck Sanders, the Chief Nursing Officer at the Union County Hospital, so he could shed light on his experience.
Sanders' role at the hospital is to check on families while their relative is receiving medical attention.He offers some guidance for families to hopefully prevent any harm from happening to a loved one.
Some of advice he offered for family members includes:
- Listen attentively when they speak
- Figure out how they are feeling
- Watch their progress
- and get them help whenever they need it.
Sanders said that having a shoulder to lean on is one of the most effective ways to helping a relative or friend stay safe.
He also mentioned to continue looking for signs like depression, huge behavioral shifts, lack of communication, or spurts of anger.
If someone in your community or a family member needs help, please contact the or a local mental health care facility near you.
For those in southern Illinois a few mental health care facilities include the and .
