Suicide Informed - Blog Posts
September is Suicide Prevention Month and I wanted to share some reminders
suicide should not be labeled as “selfish”. people who commit suicide are in incredible pain and think there’s only one way out. that pain is unimaginable if you’ve never experienced it. think about what drove the victim to do it, not just what you think about it
not all suicidal people will self harm or commit suicide. many struggle to live everyday, but continue on. this doesn’t mean that their struggle isn’t as important as those who are actively life threatening
self harm is not an indicator of suicidal thoughts all the time. many people who self harm do it for a release from the pain, not to die. this doesn’t mean their struggle is less important because they aren’t actively suicidal. but it’s also important to keep an eye on them because the release from pain can turn deadly very quickly, and they may become suicidal over time
suicidal people don’t think about dying all the time. they can have moments of happiness, anger, love, compassion, and any other emotion. they can also still be suicidal when they’re not in immediate danger.
speaking of moods, if a suicidal person suddenly is very calm, it’s best to check on them. they may have come to terms with a plan to commit suicide and need help. yes, it can be just a good mood, but it can be life saving to check in on them
being suicidal is not attention seeking. people who are suicidal need help and attention, yes, but they aren’t feeling this way to get it.
suicidal people may not be suicidal because they want the pain to stop. they may feel like people are better off without them, that no one will miss them, they’re tired of reliving trauma, or they just can’t imagine a future with them in it
many suicidal people who make it past their expected death don’t know how to continue on in life. if someone has spent the last few years thinking they won’t make it past a certain age, becoming an adult or getting older and having new challenges can be very difficult to handle because they didn’t plan for it. this is why having a therapist or counselor even once they’re out of the direct suicidal thoughts is important
having someone to cry to and call when you need help is one of the most effective suicide preventers. if a suicidal person thinks they can come to you, please be there for them, it may just save their life
suicidal people may be living for things you don’t see as important, like tv show or waiting for a new book to come out. don’t shame people for what’s keeping them alive, it’s better than nothing
that’s just the beginning of stuff to know about suicidal people and suicide in general. please call a hotline or text a service if you are in crisis. from personal experience as someone who’s been suicidal, i know how hard it is to pick up that phone, but i promise you someone is there to help
hotlines —
