Tips to support your mental health :: WRAL.com

SUNSET WE SEE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. >>> WELL, THIS NEAR PERFECT WEATHER SERIES IS A GREAT REASON TO BE OUTDOOR, WHICH IS GOOD FOR YOUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. >> MENTAL HEALTH HAS BEEN ON THE GAP AS THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH CLOSED. THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE AFFIRMS THAT THE SUICIDE RATE IN THIS COUNTRY HAS INCREASED BY 35% OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS. WRAL’S LESLIE MORENO IS LIVE IN RALEIGH AFTER TALKING WITH A LOCAL THERAPIST WHO OFFERED A SNAPSHOT OF THIS INCREASE SO WE ALL CAN FIGHT STIGMA. LESLIE? >> Reporter: YEAH, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS OUR LOCAL THERAPIST SAID HAS PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN SUICIDE IS ISOLATION. THEN, GO FOR A WALK, SPEND A TIME IN NATURE. BEING NEAR OTHER PEOPLE CAN REALLY MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE WHEN THINKING OF SUICIDALITY. THE EXPERTS SAY THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS BE ALONE. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, THE DEMAND FOR THERAPY HAS EVOLVED. >> PEOPLE WHO ARE PAST, WHETHER IT’S THE FINANCIAL DISTRESS OF FEELING COVID OF ANY AGE. I COULD THINK ABOUT STUDENTS AND MORE. >> Journalist: A LICENSED FAMILY THERAPIST HAS NOTED AN INCREASE IN PATIENTS THINKING OF SUICIDALITY. JUST LAST YEAR, ONE OF HIS FORMER PATIENTS WAS SUICIDE. >> HONESTY I WILL HAVE MY OWN CLINICAL EVACUATION. >> Journalist: SHE ATTENDS THE INCREASE IN SUICIDAL THOUGHTS TO THREE MAIN THINGS. PANDEMIC, RACISM AND THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11. >> EVERYTHING 9/11 BROUGHT WITH IT, I THINK HIT PEOPLE MUCH MORE THIS PARTICULAR YEAR ONLY BECAUSE THEY ARE MUCH MORE VULNERABLE TO COVID. THEN WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS WITH POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STRUGGLES. >> Reporter: CHAN SAYS THE HARD PART IS SOMEONE WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS CAN LOOK GOOD. IF YOU THINK SOMEONE NEEDS HELP, THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO SHARE AND ASK. >> FOR EXAMPLE SAY HEY, I WAS REALLY STRESSED OR IT WAS SUPER HARD. AND YOU? AND THAT MAY OPEN THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE THEY HEARD FROM YOU FIRST. >> Reporter: SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE HELPFUL IN THIS CASE. IF YOU FEEL THERE IS NO ONE TO TALK TO, THERE ARE SEVERAL FACEBOOK GROUPS WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAY ALSO GO THROUGH SOMETHING SIMILAR. GUYS? >> SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ELSE. LESLIE MORENO LIVE IN RALEIGH, THANKS, LESLIE. >>> IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW IS IN STRUGGLE AND MAY THINK SUICIDALITY, THERE ARE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU. START WITH THE SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFE LINE AT 1-800-273-TALK. OR YOU CAN TEXT THE WORD SPEAK TO