Suicidal Thoughts Can Affect Anyone

                  Suicide Prevention Month is a time to help people who struggle with suicidal thoughts. An unfortunate reality is that suicidal thoughts can happen to anyone. There is no person that is immune to it. Suicidal thoughts are a symptom of an illness. That illness can affect anyone. Suicidal thoughts are painful and often debilitating. No one should have to face suicidal thoughts alone. That is why the awareness raised in months like this and the awareness work of mental health advocates and volunteers in groups such as NAMI is so critical. 

                  People who are experiencing suicidal thoughts need to be listen to. They need support. They need to feel safe reaching out for help. When a person’s thoughts are telling them that their life is not worth living, they need to be heard not judged. These thoughts are real. When a person shares that they are having suicidal thoughts their intention is not to be attention seeking. They are reaching out for help, and they deserve that help.

                  I have lived with suicidal thoughts since I was a teenager. At times these thoughts have been overwhelming and have led me to an edge I could have fallen over. Suicidal thoughts are painful. In my experience, it is difficult to talk back to these thoughts. For a long time, I tried to cope on my own. That was not healthy and led me further into the darkness of depression. These thoughts are real. I am lucky to have a mental health team that I can turn to in these times. It is for this reason that I work to raise awareness about the difficulties associated with mental illness. I want to help others find the help I have found. No one deserves to live with suicidal thoughts alone. 

I have learned that my suicidal thoughts are not my fault. That was a difficult lesson to learn. The thoughts are inside our heads. That makes it easy to believe we are at fault. But there is no blaming. There is no fault. Suicidal thoughts just happen. As I mentioned earlier, suicidal thoughts are a part of mental illness. Even with treatment, we can still be impacted by suicidal thoughts because these thoughts are powerful and are sneaky little b****es. They rush in when we are struggling. At other times they creep into our heads. I believe it is important to share our thoughts at times like these. This does not mean to just tell anyone. We need to share with someone we can trust. A mental health provider or a loved one can be vital listeners. If you do not have someone you can turn to, 988 is an important resource. This helpline can connect you with support and the person on the line can support you until you are connected with the appropriate help provider. Another important resource is 911.  If you are in immediate danger, it is best to call 911. 

Everyone deserves support. When we raise awareness about mental health and mental illness, we are making it possible for people to be heard. We are making it possible for people to receive the support they need in times of crisis. Suicidal thoughts should never be dismissed. They are serious and need to be addressed. 

Remember anyone can be affected by suicidal thoughts and these thoughts are not a sign of weakness. No matter how difficult times are or how loud the thoughts are, life is worth living.

 

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help.

 

You can call 988 or 911. NAMI has helplines.

Your primary care provider is also an option. 

If you have a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist shareyour thoughts with them.

You can also go to any emergency room.

Suicide Prevention Month 2025

                  September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Month. It coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day which is September 10^th. This month’ recognition emerged from the establishment of World Suicide Prevention Day by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in 2003. The IASP and the World Health Organization (WHO) joined forces to establish this day worldwide. In 2008 September was designated as National Suicide Prevention Month.

                  Throughout this month I will post about suicide. My intention is to bring hope to the darkness of suicide. I realize that this topic can be a trigger. Please read with care and know that there are organizations that can help. If you are considering suicide or are in crisis, please reach out for help. 988 is a helpline that you can reach out to at any time. I will include a reminder that 988 exists to help in every post this month. Not every post this month will be about suicide. That would be too much, but I do want to bring light and understanding to this topic. 

                  Let’s start by defining some terms related to suicide. Suicide is the act of intentionally taking one’s own life. It includes intentionality and is self-directed. A suicide attempt is a self-directed, potentially injurious act where the person intends to die, but survives. Suicidal ideation is the act of thinking about, considering, or planning suicide. Self-harm involves intentionally harming oneself without the intent to die.

                  The language we use when talking about suicide is important. We should not say that a person “committed suicide”. This wording has a negative connotation. It insinuates that the person committed a crime. Instead, we should use phrases such as “died by suicide”. This is more neutral and takes away the idea that it was a criminal action. It takes away the idea that the suicide was the person’s fault. 

                  It is important to understand that suicide is a result of illness. It is not attention seeking. It is not a sign of weakness. Suicide is not selfish. Suicide is a result of mental illness. Suicidal ideation needs to be taken seriously. Intervention is necessary when a person is having suicidal thoughts or expressing suicidal ideation. There is help. As a starting point the following numbers can be contacted: 

 

 

·      In the U.S., you can call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), available 24/7.

·      In the UK, you can contact Samaritans at 116 123, available 24/7.

·      In Canada, you can call Talk Suicide Canada at 1-833-456-4566.

 

Other important resources include your primary care provider, who can refer you to

mental health providers. If you already have a mental health provider such as a therapist, counselor, psychiatric nurse practitioner, psychologist, or psychiatrist you can discuss your thoughts with that person. You can go to the nearest emergency room. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Organizations such as NAMI have helplines (NAMI Warmlines Directory).

                  If you experience suicidal ideation or have attempted suicide, a safety plan is important. You can read an article I wrote for Recover.com on safety plans here: Creating a Safety Plan for Times of Suicidal Crisis.

                  Suicide Prevention Month is intended to raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding suicide. This month I hope that I can share information and personal experience that will help others. These posts will be published on Mondays and Thursdays this month. I will mix in some other topics. As I end this post, I want to leave you with the thought that even in the darkest of moments there is hope. Reach out for help if you are struggling. Remember 988 is a hotline that can help you 24/7.