Trigger Warning – Please note that this blog post is about the topic of suicide and as such may cause difficult emotions.
Today, the 10th of September 2024, is World Suicide Prevention Day.
A day where globally, we come together with the purpose of raising awareness of suicide and suicide prevention. This can be a very difficult conversation and topic to talk about, however it is so important that we do. Through raising awareness, we can do more to support those who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts so that they are not struggling alone.
This is the act of intentionally taking your own life, and usually involves having abstract thoughts about ending your life or feeling that people would be better off without you. Or it can even involve thinking about methods of suicide or making clear plans to take your own life. Experiencing this can be a very scary, challenging time for someone.
Suicidal thoughts can be experienced by anyone, and there are many reasons as to why someone may be feeling this way. Such as isolation, discrimination, financial and employment issues, trauma, struggling to adjust to new life changes, and relationships ending. There are of course just a few of the many possibilities that could be causing someone to feel this way.
How can we help someone who may be experiencing these thoughts?
Firstly, it can be important to be able to recognise the signs which could include…
- A noticeable drop towards taking care of themselves
- Giving away possessions or once cherished items
- Diet worsening
- Self-Harming
- Avoiding people or even seeming less sociable
- Self-loathing
Of course, it is important to remember that these signs may not be the same for everyone.
If someone you know comes to talk to you and discloses they are experiencing these thoughts, there are several things that you can do…
- Acknowledge how they feel.
- Ask open questions, not questions that can be answered by yes/no such as “Tell me how you are feeling”.
- Get support from emergency service’s, GP, Community Mental Health Team, family or friends.
- Reassure them.
- Stay with them until support has been arranged.
Most importantly, try to use empathy and avoid expressing any feelings of judgement when you are talking to them. We understand hearing that someone you care about is feeling these emotions, can be a hard thing to process, but in the moment, it is so important to be there for them, and listen to what they have got to say.
If you are experiencing this, or know someone who is, please remember that you are not alone. We are here for you...
If you are in need of immediate support, we have information here -> Get Help Now | Burton&DistrictMind (burtonmind.co.uk)
We also have our Safe Haven Crisis Café, open Wednesday to Sunday, you can find more information about this here -> Safe Haven | Burton&DistrictMind (burtonmind.co.uk)
If you’d like to find out more information about the support available, please reach out to us today. We will help you.
01283566696
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