September is Suicide Prevention Month

September is Suicide Prevention Month and one local Austin group is hoping to help those battling suicidal thoughts and other mental illnesses.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that the suicide rate for teenage girls in the United States is at an all time.

Karen Ranus is the Executive Director of Austin's National Alliance on Mental Illness or NAMI and says in order to fix the problem people need to become more open about mental health and make it okay for people to ask for help.

Ranus says another big factor that's causing the suicide rate to increase it social media.

In order to raise awareness and money to help, NAMI is holding its annual walk on September 23rd at 9 AM. It's a 5K starting from the Long Center. The walk is free but you do have to register. 

You can get more information here.