We are nearing the end of National Suicide Prevention Month.
My purpose: helping those in a dark place gain quality of life back and live in a world where they feel misunderstood.
The actions leading up to a suicide go unnoticed for many reasons. In no particular order:
- People are really good at masking depression and thoughts of suicide.
- People don’t want to talk about it because they feel people don’t want to listen.
- Family and friends think “they wouldn’t really take their own life….they will be okay”.
- Family and friends think the person is suicidal just to get attention and don’t take them seriously. PLEASE TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY!
- Family and friends are not educated as to the signs that lead up to suicide.
- People are fearful of helping their loved ones because “what if the family finds out”?
- “He/she has a good life….what could they be depressed about?” “It’s all in their head.”
They go unnoticed because some don’t want to notice. Society turns away from mental health issues instead of embracing the wonderfulness of mental illness. Some of the most brilliant people have struggled with mental illness.
We often take ‘today’ for granted thinking the person will be OK ‘tomorrow’. The problem with that thinking is the person having thoughts of suicide doesn’t want to be here tomorrow. They are in such a dark place that there is no reason to be here tomorrow.
Some suicides/attempts are impulsive with no warning.
Often times, a week or two prior to a suicide, people research the internet for methods.
Many have actually seen their psychiatrist or therapist prior to an attempt but the conversation of suicide was not had or the relationship was not strong enough and the person didn’t share or minimized how they felt because they really didn’t want to be there. Maybe they were afraid if they said something they would be rushed to an emergency room and placed in a locked unit which seems to be the only treatment thus far when bringing up the word suicide IS locking people in a psychiatric unit. THIS SYSTEM NEEDS TO CHANGE..
Family and friends who do try to help… That’s really all one can do because at the end of the day if someone truly wants to end their life they will find a way.
I’ve known people who have received treatment and help and then went home and they are no longer with us.
Perhaps our treatment methods are not working.
There is no cookie-cutter approach when treating people with mental health concerns….. at least there should not be.
Whether one is a homeless person, musician, CEO, celebrity, housewife, teacher, police officer, lawyer, nurse, engineer…. I don’t have enough room to write every occupation…. just know that mental illness will find you as it does not care who you are or how much money you have or where you live or how successful you are.
There is much shame and guilt associated with suicidal thoughts and attempts and we need to learn how to communicate with people because it’s very difficult and can put the person at risk for another attempt or a fatal one.
I will say that I believe the majority of people getting help for their thoughts of suicide and/or their attempts go forward to lead successful lives and accomplish their dreams and goals.
I have often said that I don’t know that we can 100% prevent suicide but we can certainly do what we can to prevent the numbers from increasing. I will never label people as just a number because they are so much more than that.
Your role in this?…..
Be a friend…..and then some.
~mh 💕😊
I Care. Let’s Talk. 