Dr. Sim launches the Check in Challenge for Suicide Prevention Month

The idea is small on purpose. "You do not need to be a clinician to help," she says. "You just need to care enough to reach out." She knows how often a quiet struggle lives behind a bright smile. She also knows how far a single touchpoint can go.

"Forget everything you know or think you know about suicide or depression or anxiety," Dr. Sim says. "It does not look like what it used to look like anymore." She tells people to check on the upbeat colleague, the problem solver, the friend who never complains, and the achiever who always seems fine. "Check on your happy friends. Check on the ones that solve everyone's problems. Check on your friends that seem like nothing ever bothers them. Check on your friends that are very successful. Check on everybody."

The numbers are a wake up call. More than 49,000 people died by suicide in the United States in 2023. That is about one death every 11 minutes. For people ages 10 to 34, suicide is the second leading cause of death. (CDC)

For Dr. Sim, the clinical facts and the human moments point to the same truth. Support matters. "Support is not optional for mental health," she says. "It is essential. You do not have to wait until someone is in crisis. The people who are hurting the most are often the least likely to say anything."

She has seen a simple pattern work. Scheduled check ins. A monthly text. A quick coffee. A reminder that help is available if things start to slide. "Regular check ins matter," she says. "Even a short monthly touchpoint can be the difference between spiraling and choosing care."

Why does a small gesture carry such weight. Because many crises turn on a single, awful instant. "With suicide, it is usually that one second," Dr. Sim says. "One day the brain can say, you know what, jump. So let us catch it." A timely message can interrupt that moment. A calm voice can slow down a racing thought. A plan can replace panic.

There is a myth that success protects people. Dr. Sim wants that myth gone. "You carry everything, and you can still be successful, and you do not have to kill yourself," she says. Ambition and achievement do not cancel pain. They can hide it. Which is why she keeps coming back to connection. Friendly pressure to talk. Gentle invitations to get help. A clear path to care.

Conscientia Health is built around that path. The practice offers timely, high quality psychiatric care with schedules that fit real life. The team includes psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and psychotherapists who focus on anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other mental health concerns for children, teens, and adults. The model is simple. Listen first. Address the whole picture. Make next steps clear and doable.

The Check in Challenge gives everyone a role. You can reach out today. You can notice when a friend has gone quiet. You can ask twice. You can make space for a real answer. "You do not have to fix anything," Dr. Sim says. "The check in itself is the point."

If a friend shares that they are not okay, keep it simple. Thank them for telling you. Ask if they want to talk by phone or in person. Offer to help them find support. If they are in immediate danger, stay with them and contact help. If they are not in danger, help them make a plan. Encourage them to call a clinician or a primary care provider. Share the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support by call or text, or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Dr. Sim also speaks to the loved ones who carry the load for others. Parents who feel like they must be strong. Partners who hold the family together. Friends who always show up. "We probably underestimate the power of support," she says. "You need support." That means caretakers need check ins too.

Stigma still makes the work harder. People worry about labels. They worry about judgment. Social media highlights victories and filters out pain. Dr. Sim sees it in clinic every week. "The people who look fine can be the ones suffering in silence," she says. A gentle message can lower the wall. A steady presence can keep it from going back up.

The public health case for outreach is strong. Early connection has real power. It builds safety long before a crisis. It keeps options open. It keeps people engaged with care. It helps families spot warning signs sooner. It gives communities a common action that anyone can take and that everyone can explain to a friend who asks what to do.

So what should your message say. Keep it honest and short. Try I was thinking about you and wanted to see how you are doing. Try I miss you and would love to catch up this week. Try I have noticed you seem a little quiet and I care about you. Then listen. Ask one follow up question. Give them time. Keep the door open.

This is not complicated and that is the point. "It does not take clinical training to save a life," Dr. Sim says. Small, steady, human contact creates space for hope. Some will need professional care. Many will need practice with the words I am not okay. All will benefit from knowing that someone is paying attention.

In a month set aside for prevention, Dr. Sim and Conscientia Health are asking the country to act. Start with one person. Send one message. Do it again next week. Then make it a habit that lasts long after September. "Pick up your phone," she says. "Reach out. Let us catch it."

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to chat with a trained counselor. The service is free and available at all hours. (CDC)

Learn more about care options at conscientiahealth.com.

SOURCE Conscientia Health