Every 40 seconds, someone in the world dies by suicide. That’s more than 700,000 lives lost each year — lives that were once full of potential, stories, and love. Behind every number is a family, a circle of friends, and a community forever changed.

The truth is, suicide isn’t a distant problem — it’s a tragedy that touches people we know, often in silence.

That’s why September is Suicide Prevention Month — it’s a chance for us to break that silence, to help shine a light in the darkness, and remind the people in our lives that help and hope are always within reach.



What is Suicide Prevention Month?

Suicide Prevention Month isn’t just a date on a calendarit’s a global movement. Every September, organizations, advocates, and communities come together to raise awareness and promote healing.

In the United States, efforts from groups like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention helped solidify this month as a dedicated time of education and advocacy. Over the years, campaigns like the creation of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the worldwide observance of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th have strengthened the call to action.

This month is more than just individual awareness — it’s a time to build connections, show unyielding compassion, and become a force for positive change.

It calls on us to educate ourselves and others about the risk factors, warning signs, and myths surrounding suicide. It encourages us to open our hearts and have stigma-free conversations about mental health. It empowers those who are struggling to seek help and reminds them that they’re not alone.

Suicide Prevention Month honors those we’ve lost, while helping us to walk alongside those who are still fighting their battles, and, as we consider what this month means, it leads us to the question: What can we do to actually make a difference?


How You Can Help

We all have the power to play a substantive role in suicide prevention, and sometimes, it’s the smallest act that makes the biggest difference.

Here are some ways you can help someone who might be struggling:

  • Check In: A simple “How are you really doing?” can open the door to lifesaving conversations.

  • Listen Without Judgment: Offer presence instead of quick fixes. People often need to be heard, not solved.

  • Share Resources: Familiarize yourself with local and national crisis resources, and pass them on when needed.

    • Military, veterans, and first responders: you can call our talk line 845.745.0088 to connect with a peer from Guardian Revival

    • For ANYONE in crisis and in need of immediate assistance, call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)

  • Promote Hope: Share positive reminders, support resilience, and highlight that recovery is possible.

  • Take Care of Yourself: Your well-being is vital — you can’t pour from an empty cup.

Recognizing how all of us can play a role in suicide prevention also draws attention to those who face especially heavy burdens in their daily lives — our veterans and first responders.


Supporting Veterans & First Responders

Comparison of statistics from several sources

Our nation’s first responders, military, and veterans face challenges that most will never see. Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and service members carry heavy burdens — whether it’s the trauma of emergencies, the toll of combat, or the struggle to adjust to life after service.

The statistics paint a sobering picture:


These numbers reflect real people — heroes who need our empathy, understanding, and support. To stand by them, we must create environments where seeking help is normalized, not stigmatized.

As a nation and community, we must provide specialized and confidential resources tailored to the unique needs of our guardians, strengthen peer networks where shared experience fosters healing, and show consistent appreciation and compassion, reminding them that their sacrifices are seen and that their lives hold immeasurable value.

(And, in fact, this is why Guardian Revival was founded: to help improve the lives and support the mental health & well-being of our guardians.)

If you want to learn more about the issues impacting our guardians and what you can do to help, you can read a comprehensive article here: Guardians Need Support

When we think about how to turn awareness into action, one simple yet impactful way is to join a movement that connects us physically, emotionally, and symbolically.


The One Mile Challenge

For Suicide Prevention Month, Guardian Revival invites you to take part in our One Mile Challenge presented by GOVX.

The mission is simple: move one mile a day — walk, run, or roll —and dedicate that mile to raising awareness and standing with those affected by suicide.

Each mile is both a real and symbolic step forwarda step in remembrance of those we’ve lost, a step in solidarity with those who are still fighting their battles, and a step toward building stronger bodies, minds, and communities.

The One Mile Challenge isn’t about pace or performance — it’s about presence. It’s about moving forward, together. When we dedicate our steps to this cause, we remind ourselves and those around us that no one should face their darkest moments alone.

As with any challenge worth taking on, the real impact comes when we answer the call to act. Not just this month, but in the days and years to come.


Step Up This Suicide Prevention Month With Guardian REvival



Every step matters. Every voice matters. Every life matters. This month, Guardian Revival is asking you to join the One Mile Challenge and invite others to walk alongside you.

Speak up about mental health, share resources that save lives, and create space for honest conversations. Most importantly, let our veterans and first responders know that they are not alone, that their service is seen, and that their lives are deeply valued.

Together, we can walk toward a future where hope prevails over despair. Take the first step today, and keep walking — for yourself, for those you love, and for every person out there who might be struggling.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please dial 988 for immediate support from the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline


How Guardian Revival Helps Veterans & First Responders

Our goal is simple: empower guardians with tools, resources & experiences to thrive — no matter where they are in their journey.

Here’s what we offer:

🌲 Another Summit

  • Local hikes, paddling trips & outdoor adventures

  • Designed to reduce stress and build peer connection

  • For most outings, no gear or experience required 

🐾 Boots & Paws

  • Provide guardians with companion dogs as puppies (along with a care package)

  • Strengthens routine, companionship & well-being

  • We also contract for facility dog visits to corporate events, educational institutions, and community gatherings to offer their special touch of warmth, comfort, and relaxation

🎶 Encore

  • Making it easy for guardians to learn, play, write, record & share music

  • Great for expression, creativity, and connection

  • Online lessons and Beyond the Soundboard sessions are available 

🤝 Peer Services

  • 1:1 and group peer support (via gatherings) — by guardians, for guardians

  • Connect with others who have walked the same path

  • Our peer specialists are fellow guardians with backgrounds in military and first responder settings, plus additional training

📞 Talk Line

  • Call 845.745.0088 to connect with a trained peer specialist from our Peer Services team

  • Not a crisis line — just someone to talk to who gets it

  • 100% private, no reporting, no judgment

🏡 Homefront

  • Support, resources, and events for families of guardians

  • Offerings for the spouse / partners only, as well as couples, and the whole family

📈 RISE

  • Events focused on building resilience and improving focus, energy, and overall well-being

  • Events available both online and in-person in the Hudson Valley

  • Targeting essential pillars of wellness: sleep, nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness 


Upcoming Events


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