Preventing Suicide.

By Melanie Froemke, LCSW, RPT-S, e-RYT200

Honoring Life: Suicide Prevention as a Veteran and Therapist

As both a veteran and an individual therapist, suicide prevention holds a deeply personal meaning for me. September, Suicide Prevention Month, is more than a calendar observance—it is a call to action, reflection, and commitment to those who carry invisible wounds.

The Veteran Perspective

Military service instills resilience, discipline, and camaraderie, but it can also leave lasting scars. Veterans often face challenges such as post-traumatic stress, moral injury, depression, and difficulties transitioning into civilian life. The weight of these experiences can feel isolating, leading too many to believe they must carry the burden alone.Veterans are trained to push forward, but healing requires something different—slowing down, sharing openly, and receiving support without judgment.

The Therapist Role

As a therapist, I have the privilege of walking alongside individuals, both veterans and non-veterans, who are in their most vulnerable moments. Suicide prevention in the therapy room means creating a safe space where honesty can exist without fear. It means asking the hard questions directly, listening without minimizing pain, and working together to identify hope, purpose, and protective factors.

I draw from both professional training and lived experience. The combination allows me to meet clients with both clinical tools and genuine understanding.

Prevention Beyond the Therapy Room

Suicide prevention is not just a therapist’s job—it’s a community effort. Every one of us has the power to make a difference. Checking in on a friend, listening without rushing to fix, and reminding someone that they are not alone can be lifesaving. The smallest acts of connection often plant the seeds of hope. Just being present and asking the tough questions is essential.

For veterans, staying connected is critical. Whether through peer groups, service organizations, therapy, or simply reaching out to a buddy, community is a lifeline. Healing happens in relationship, not isolation.

Supporting Families & Kids

Adolescents and teens face different challenges today with phones, social media, video games and stressors that often feel intense. Creating a safe place for kids to be able to talk through or experience difficult emotions with support, parents can play an integral role in supporting their child's mental health, bolstering strengths, and preventing suicide. It's typical for kids to have ups and downs, but parents can be on the lookout for irritability or changes in mood, withdrawing from friends or favorite activities, sharing hopelessness or worthlessness, risk-taking or self-destructive behaviors, or giving away special belongings or saying goodbye in different ways.

A Call to Action

If you or your child are struggling, please know this: your story is not finished, and your presence matters. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness, but of courage. If you are supporting someone else, remember that listening can be just as powerful as speaking.

This Suicide Prevention Month, I honor those we have lost, those who continue to struggle, and those who fight every day to hold onto hope. As a veteran and therapist, I remain committed to breaking silence, building connection, and reminding others that healing is possible.

Don't hesitate to reach out today. If you or your child is actively suicidal, take them to the closest Emergency Room. If they don't have a plan or intent, reach out to make an appointment with a therapist today. info@rivergrovetherapy.com