National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: Why Connection Matters
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness around suicide prevention, encourage meaningful conversations about mental health, and remind people that support is available.
At Heels & Handshakes, we believe deeply in the power of connection.
We talk a lot about building relationships in business. Making the introduction. Sharing the opportunity. Showing up for one another. But connection matters far beyond your career.
Sometimes, the most important connection is simply having someone you can say, “I’m not okay,” to.
You Don't Have to Have It All Together
Women in business are often juggling a lot. ( We see you 👀.)
Careers. Businesses. Families. Leadership roles. Relationships. Financial pressures. The never-ending to-do list.
And somewhere along the way, it can become easy to believe that we are supposed to handle all of it and handle it well.
But being successful doesn't mean you have to have everything figured out.
It doesn't mean you have to be the strong one all the time.
And it certainly doesn't mean you have to navigate difficult seasons alone.
Asking for help isn't a weakness. It's a form of taking care of yourself.
Connection Is Part of Mental Health
One of the things we love most about the Heels & Handshakes community is that our events aren't just about exchanging business cards. They're about finding your people.
They're about walking into a room and feeling like you can exhale.
They're about meeting another woman who understands the pressure of running a business, leading a team, building a career, raising a family, or simply trying to figure out what comes next.
Sometimes a conversation at an H&H event turns into a referral, a collaboration, or a new client.
And sometimes, it turns into something much more personal: “I've been feeling the same way.”
Those conversations matter, too.
mental health matters
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mental health matters 〰️
Mental Health Support Is a Member Perk
We believe that supporting women in business means supporting the whole woman, not just the professional version of her.
That's why mental health resources are part of our Heels & Handshakes member benefits.
Level Up members receive one complimentary month of BetterHelp therapy.
Therapy can provide a dedicated space to talk through what's happening in your life, process challenges, and get support from a licensed therapist.
You don't have to wait until you're in crisis to ask for help.
Sometimes, you simply need a place to talk.
Check on Your People
National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is also a reminder that we don't always know what someone else is carrying.
The woman who looks like she has it all together might be struggling.
The colleague who always says she's fine might not be.
The friend who hasn't responded to your last few texts might just need someone to keep checking in.
So send the text.
Make the phone call.
Invite the coworker for a walk and talk.
Ask the second question after someone says, “I'm fine.”
And if you're the person who isn't okay, please tell someone.
You don't have to find the perfect words. You can simply start with:
“I'm having a hard time and I could use some support.”
That's enough.
If You or Someone You Know Needs Help
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, help is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
You don't have to go through a difficult moment alone.