September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month – a time, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, to raise awareness and discuss this highly stigmatized topic. According to the latest published statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2021 suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. Undiagnosed and untreated mental illness can lead to suicidal thoughts across genders, ages, and backgrounds. That’s why it’s important to normalize public discussions around mental health and available sources of help and treatment, and to spread hope to those who have none or who have been affected by suicide.

While there’s never much of a silver lining on the topic of suicide, research does show that people who are suicidal feel relief when someone approaches them, expressing concern and care. Findings indicate that getting the topic out in the open may reduce thoughts of suicide, so there is hope for getting help or helping someone you may know who is struggling.

Warning Signs & Risk Factors: See Something, Say Something

Warning signs can start small and seem insignificant, but they shouldn’t be cast aside. Check in often on friends or family who say things like, “Nothing matters,” or “I wish I’d never been born.” Let them know you’re there for them.

Other warning signs to be aware of:

• Dramatic and uncharacteristic mood swings.
• Increased reliance on drugs and/or alcohol.
• Withdrawal from normal people and activities.
• Aggressive, impulsive, or reckless behavior.

Some behaviors constitute an immediate emergency, such as stashing pills, buying a weapon, and giving away possessions.

Helping Our Youth Develop Healthy Behaviors

According to the Mental Health Alliance, a child’s positive mental health depends on:

• Encouragement from caretakers and teachers.
• Unconditional love within the family.
• High self-esteem through self-confidence.
• Opportunities to play.
• Safe and secure surroundings.
• Appropriate discipline and guidance.

We can take simple steps to help the youth in our homes, family circles, and communities by having more conversations in which we (adults) listen more than we talk, encouraging children to listen to and label their emotions, and asking them to come up with ideas on how to cope when they feel strong emotions. By letting children lead with ideas, they can figure out coping skills that work for them and feel empowered to deal with their emotions in a positive and constructive manner.

Critical Resources

At Transocean, we believe our employees and their families should have access to benefits for both a healthy body and mind. Whether your needs are urgent or preventive, help is available for you and your family with:

• Self-care and self-help through AbleTo, which offers the latest self-care techniques, coping tools, meditations, and more at no cost to you.
• EAP benefits to help you cope with life challenges (access code: RIG).
• Substance use and abuse counseling (visit the My Journey page to learn about several resources)
• In-person and online behavioral health therapy, including our digital platform, Talkspace.

If you or a loved one is in crisis, don’t hesitate to call our confidential Suicide Prevention Hotline, 1-800-273-8255, always free, with a professional available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also receive chat support through 988lifeline.org.

Remember, mental health should never be taken for granted and should be prioritized along with your and your family’s physical well-being. Normalizing discussions about mental health is an important step in removing stigma and providing help and hope.