September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

According to nationaldaycalendar.com, “Everyone is affected by suicide, not just the victim. Suicide impacts family and friends long after the loss of a loved one. On average, one person commits suicide every 16.2 minutes. Two-thirds of the people who commit suicide suffer from depression.”

While the massive promotion behind the 2022 launch of 988 as the national emergency suicide prevention hotline has made a measurable impact connecting those most desperate with help, here in Newtown we should all play a role by making our loved ones, friends, and especially our teens and college age children aware they are never alone in their deepest sorrow. Newtown Health District offers multiple resources on its online page. Visit newtown-ct.gov/newtown-health-district, then click on Community Health within the blue banner on the left side of the page, and then click on the Behavioral and Mental Health tab.

The CT Suicide Advisory Board (CTSAB) advises anyone to call 911 or 988 when they hear or see someone threatening to hurt or kill themselves; looking for ways to kill themselves such as seeking access to pills, weapons, or other means; and/or talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide.

Readers can also call 211 or 988 should they witness, hear, or see someone exhibiting hopelessness, rage, or anger; seeking revenge; acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking; feeling trapped — like there’s no way out; or increasing alcohol or drug use. Also look for those withdrawing from friends, family, or society, and those exhibiting anxiety, agitation, an inability to sleep or sleeping all the time, dramatic mood changes, no reason for living, and/or no sense of purpose in life.

If you or someone you know is in mental health distress or is thinking of suicide, please call or text 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or chat 988lifeline.org. And in an emergency, call or text 911.

Friday, September 4, is National Food Bank Day, encouraging all to commit to contributing to the cause that believes no one should go to bed hungry.

Food banks across the country help some of the 42 million men, women, and children who struggle with putting food on the table. The reasons range from illness to job loss and a general change in circumstances — circumstances that can happen to any one of us.

For parents struggling to make ends meet, the ability to look their children in their eyes over a meal instead of into hungry eyes is a difference made by supporting food banks. Food banks fill the gap for those living on a meager budget. Many food banks offer educational opportunities that help people change their situation and begin anew. Often, those who have benefited from the programs return to volunteer and contribute to the very food bank that staved off hunger to do the same for others.

Help a neighbor, a friend, coworker, or a child by making a donation. Volunteer at your local food bank. Food banks take nonperishable food items and cash donations every day. Check their needs lists for the fresh items they are seeking.

Use #NationalFoodBankDay to give your local food bank a shout-out and to share on social media.

St Mary's Food Bank founded National Food Bank Day to recognize the outstanding contributions of food banks around the country and to commemorate the establishment of St Mary's Food Bank by its founder John van Hengel in 1967. John van Hengel came up with the idea of grocery rescue and food banking and the idea spread throughout the country, making St Mary's Food Bank the very first in the world. In 2017, St Mary's celebrated its 50th anniversary.

It distributes 250,000 meals on a daily basis through the efforts of dedicated staff, partner agencies, and volunteers. Its mission is to alleviate hunger through the gathering and distribution of food while encouraging self-sufficiency, collaboration, advocacy, and education.

The Registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed National Food Bank Day to be observed annually on the first Friday of September beginning in 2017.

Local points of donation include FAITH Food Pantry (Newtown), 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown, newtownfoodpantry.org; Daily Bread Food Pantry, 125 Park Avenue, Danbury, dailybreadfoodpantry.com; Bethel Community Food Pantry, 211 Greenwood Ave, PMB 175, Bethel; bethelcommunityfoodpantry.com; Brookfield Social Services Food Pantry, 100 Pocono Road, Brookfield, brookfieldct.gov/social-services; Monroe Food Pantry, 980 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe, monroect.gov/p/food-pantry; Salt & Light Food Pantry, 423 Main Street, Monroe; Jericho Partnership Food Pantry, 22 Maple Avenue, Danbury, jerichopartnership.org.