Bronx residents kicked off National Suicide Awareness Month in Woodlawn Sunday.

Brett Scudder of the Scudder Intervention Services Foundation says the only way to tackle suicide prevention is to normalize the conversation.

He says his organization offers services that let people know it's OK to be feeling down or depressed. Scudder says he also lets them know resources are available.

Warning signs from the Suicide Prevention Hotline include talking about wanting to die or killing oneself, talking about feeling hopeless or not having a reason to live, increased use of alcohol and drugs, sleeping too much or too little and displaying extreme mood swings, among others.

Some things that may cause these dark thoughts, according to the hotline, are life changes beyond control like health, employment, homelessness and relationships. This can include abuse, violence or death.

Scudder's work and research shows that the Bronx is the borough with the highest suicide attempts or completions.