Anne Koenig‑Shimsky, a seasoned therapist at the Counseling Center of Highlands, trained at Atlanta’s National Resource for Suicide Prevention and Aftercare. She brings years of experience walking alongside families and friends in the aftermath of suicide. No stranger to the complex grief that follows such loss, she is honored to support the Counseling Center’s efforts to educate and strengthen the Highlands/Cashiers community through compassionate, evidence‑informed suicide intervention and aftercare.
September arrives gently on the Plateau. The air cools, the light softens, and the town begins its slow turn toward autumn. It’s a season that invites reflection – it invites something more: a shared commitment to understanding and supporting suicide prevention.
National Suicide Prevention Month is not simply a date on the calendar. It is a reminder that every community, even one as close-knit and beautiful as ours, carries quiet stories of struggle. Some are spoken. Many are not. And yet, the presence of struggle does not diminish the strength of the Highlands‑Cashiers Plateau – it reveals it.
Why This Month Matters Here
In small communities, connection is our greatest protective factor. We greet each other at the post office, check in at the grocery store, and notice when someone’s porch light stays off longer than usual. These everyday gestures form a safety net – one woven from presence, not perfection.
But connection also means we feel one another’s losses deeply. When someone in our community struggles with thoughts of suicide, it affects the entire fabric of our community. National Suicide Prevention Month gives us language, tools, and courage to respond with steadiness rather than fear.
Understanding the Signs
Suicide rarely appears without warning. Often, the signs are subtle:
• Withdrawal from friends or community
• Expressions of hopelessness or feeling like a burden
• Sudden calm after a period of distress
• Giving away meaningful belongings
• Changes in sleep, appetite, or daily routines
These signs are not causes for panic – they are invitations to lean in with compassion.
How We Can Help
Intervention does not require clinical training. It requires presence.
• Ask directly, gently, and without shame.
• Listen more than you speak.
• Stay with the person until additional support is in place.
• Encourage connection – to family, professionals, to community.
Helping often looks like sitting on a porch, taking a walk or hike together, or making a warm meal. Small acts can be lifesaving ones.
Aftercare: The Long Arc of Healing
Surviving a suicidal crisis is not the end of the story – it is the beginning of a new chapter. Aftercare is the steady work of rebuilding connection, routine, and hope.
Families and friends play a vital role. Gentle check‑ins, shared meals, and consistent presence help restore a sense of belonging. Professional support adds structure and guidance. Community offers the reminder that healing does not happen alone.
A Community That Stands Together
The Highlands‑Cashiers Plateau has always been a place where people show up for one another. National Suicide Prevention Month simply asks us to continue that tradition with intention.
If you are struggling, you are not alone. If you are worried about someone, your concern matters. If you want to help, you already have what you need: your presence.
This September, may we honor one another with courage, compassion, and connection — the very qualities that make Highlands/Cashiers home.
If you need support, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has counselors available 24 hours a day. Call, text, or chat 988, anytime.
You can reach us at the Counseling Center of Highlands at (828) 482-7417, or email us at info@counseling-center.org.
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