Suicide directly or indirectly affects each and every one of us. According to afsp.org, there are 117 suicides every day. That equates to a successful suicide attempt about every 20 minutes. September is National Suicide Prevention month as sponsored by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
I lost a friend to suicide in the eighth grade and have known a few other people I went to high school with who've taken their lives as well. Suicide is all around us; within our families, our friends, our coworkers, our peers. Suicidal thoughts do not only affect certain individuals, they can take over the mind of anyone, at any time, for any reason. Someone is always struggling, which is why Suicide Prevention Month is so extremely important. NAMI uses this month to promote the importance of knowing what to do if you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts or have attempted suicide. Here is some insightful information to know about suicide prevention.
Things you can do:
1. Be there for the person that you know is struggling
Remember that EVERYONE is going through something. You never know the internal battle anyone is fighting, except your own. Offer support to a person that you see struggling. Remind them that they are cared for and that you will always be there to talk.
2. Seek help
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) is a great resource for those who do not feel comfortable going to a friend or family member. Psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists are also all good people to go talk to about any suicidal feelings, and if necessary a psychiatrist can prescribe medications to possibly calm those thoughts of suicide. If you feel comfortable, tell a close friend or family member and ask them for help. No one will turn you away or look down on you for wanting help in your time of need.
Warning signs:
1. Talking about suicide/wanting to die
If someone says they want to die, that should be a pretty serious red flag, and you should talk to them about it immediately and urge them to get help.
2. Depressed mood
Not all depressed people are suicidal, although depression is one of the leading causes of suicide. If you know someone is suffering from depression or acting out, talk to them about it and ask if you can help in any way.
3. Increased reckless behavior (taking heavy amount of drugs/alcohol)
If a friend is binge drinking every day, taking heavy drugs they wouldn't normally take, or partaking in other reckless activities, they may be suicidal and have stopped caring about how those things affect their life. Reach out to them and let them know you are worried about their behavior and want to help
4. Giving away possessions
This does not always happen, but sometimes when a person is preparing to commit suicide, they will give away things that are very important to them. If this sign is present, it is a good indicator that someone may be seriously be considering suicide.
5. Isolating themselves
People with suicidal thoughts will often isolate themselves because they are so miserable and feeling so alone. Don't let a friend isolate themselves, reach out to them, ask them to hang out, try to include people that you think are suffering from suicidal thoughts in your daily activities to remind them that they matter.
Most importantly, sometimes there are no signs. Sometimes, like my friend, it comes out of nowhere. So be sure to tell anyone important in your life how much they mean to you, and always know there are people there for you if you ever struggle with thoughts of suicide. Remember, you are always loved, you are not alone.
