September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month - A time to raise awareness and encourage prevention by shifting public perception and spreading hope. 

According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, a suicide is like a pebble in a pond. The waves ripple outward with a reach much greater than the size of the pebble itself. A single suicide can cause major disruption in the lives of more than 100 people.  

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, there's help available 24/7. Individuals can call or text 988 or talk online at 988lifeline.org. It's free and confidential. 

Ultimately, in the way that a pond is changed because of a pebble, an entire community can be changed by a suicide, but there's help. The Clay County Board of County Commissioners declares the month of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in Clay County.