National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

By Katie Boller Gosewisch

At the Alliance to End Human Trafficking, our recent advocacy events and conferences have centered on the theme of uniting in hope, a theme that resonates deeply this September as we observe Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This month carries a particular weight because survivors of trafficking carry deep wounds from trauma, exploitation, and isolation, which significantly increase the risk of depression, suicidal ideation, and self-harm.

Suicide prevention and trafficking prevention intersect in a shared truth: both require communities of care. Survivors need access to trauma-informed counseling, safe housing, and consistent support systems that affirm their dignity and worth. In our work, we are reminded daily that prevention is not only about stopping trafficking before it happens, but also about ensuring survivors find pathways to healing and resilience afterward.

Young people are especially vulnerable to both trafficking and suicide. When youth face instability through poverty, homelessness, abuse, or lack of community support, they are at greater risk of exploitation and of losing sight of hope. Survivors often share that the pain of isolation and silence weigh just as heavily as the trauma itself. Suicide prevention among youth requires high levels of community awareness and understanding, as well as equipping the youth with tools that help them navigate these situations.

As people of faith and conscience, we are called to be watchful of the signs of despair in those around us and to respond with compassion. Hope is one of the most powerful tools we can offer.

At the Alliance, we remain committed to advancing policies that protect vulnerable populations, expanding survivor-centered services, and addressing the conditions that make exploitation possible. Hope is not a passive idea but an active commitment to ensuring that no one is left unseen or unsupported. This is the work we carry forward together.