Kate Rainey and Eva Altman
Suicide Prevention
According to the American Psychological Association, suicide is the second leading cause of death in people ages 15 to 24. Additionally, social withdrawal is a warning sign that someone may be depressed or suicidal. If a part of you feels worthless, alone, unloved, or lost, please talk to someone. If you know anyone who may be depressed or suicidal, reach out and support them. Both parties involved in suicide prevention experience stress and struggles, but a few small actions can help each of them cope.
If you experience suicidal thoughts, remember that the struggles you face every day do not define who you are. Basing your entire future on these struggles can lead to feelings of hopelessness, but you have the power to change your future. Doing everything alone won't help you; you must realize that at some point. Sometimes, when you feel worthless, it can seem easy to be alone, but being alone is the thing that hurts you the most. Facing your struggles alone and hiding your true feelings builds a wall around you. This wall gets taller and taller over time until you don’t have the tools to knock it down. If you keep a depressive mindset, you eventually become comfortable in it, and you won’t want to leave it and seek help. If you believe you are in this state, the first and most important thing you can do is accept it. Then you can better understand yourself and begin to change your mindset. Please take this article as a sign. Open up and talk about what you are going through. You may not believe that you need help, but if a part of you needs help and you don’t seek it, you are putting yourself at risk.
As mentioned before, it is difficult to know when people are struggling because they tend to hide within themselves. If you are trying to help a depressed or suicidal friend, it is also incredibly difficult at times. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, especially if you are the only person they feel comfortable confiding in. You are going to feel a lot of pressure to do what's best for both of you, and you might feel like one wrong move could ruin your lives, but remember that your mental health is just as important as theirs. Talk about what is going on because opening up about your overwhelming situation can relieve so much stress. Even if you feel overwhelmed, don’t leave the person who is confiding in you, but do remember to allow yourself some space. Smiling at them, asking how they feel, and listening to them are small goals you can set for yourself. These goals let them know you care without overwhelming or exhausting yourself.
If you need help or if you need to help someone, small steps can lead you in the right direction. Keeping your feelings to yourself can do more harm than good if you are depressed or suicidal. Try to talk to someone because you matter. Supporting someone experiencing depressive or suicidal thoughts is no easy task, but doing things such as smiling at them and listening to them will help both of you. Although each person involved in suicide prevention experiences different struggles, they all deserve to find ways to cope.
Suicide Prevention
According to the American Psychological Association, suicide is the second leading cause of death in people ages 15 to 24. Additionally, social withdrawal is a warning sign that someone may be depressed or suicidal. If a part of you feels worthless, alone, unloved, or lost, please talk to someone. If you know anyone who may be depressed or suicidal, reach out and support them. Both parties involved in suicide prevention experience stress and struggles, but a few small actions can help each of them cope.
If you experience suicidal thoughts, remember that the struggles you face every day do not define who you are. Basing your entire future on these struggles can lead to feelings of hopelessness, but you have the power to change your future. Doing everything alone won't help you; you must realize that at some point. Sometimes, when you feel worthless, it can seem easy to be alone, but being alone is the thing that hurts you the most. Facing your struggles alone and hiding your true feelings builds a wall around you. This wall gets taller and taller over time until you don’t have the tools to knock it down. If you keep a depressive mindset, you eventually become comfortable in it, and you won’t want to leave it and seek help. If you believe you are in this state, the first and most important thing you can do is accept it. Then you can better understand yourself and begin to change your mindset. Please take this article as a sign. Open up and talk about what you are going through. You may not believe that you need help, but if a part of you needs help and you don’t seek it, you are putting yourself at risk.
As mentioned before, it is difficult to know when people are struggling because they tend to hide within themselves. If you are trying to help a depressed or suicidal friend, it is also incredibly difficult at times. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, especially if you are the only person they feel comfortable confiding in. You are going to feel a lot of pressure to do what's best for both of you, and you might feel like one wrong move could ruin your lives, but remember that your mental health is just as important as theirs. Talk about what is going on because opening up about your overwhelming situation can relieve so much stress. Even if you feel overwhelmed, don’t leave the person who is confiding in you, but do remember to allow yourself some space. Smiling at them, asking how they feel, and listening to them are small goals you can set for yourself. These goals let them know you care without overwhelming or exhausting yourself.
If you need help or if you need to help someone, small steps can lead you in the right direction. Keeping your feelings to yourself can do more harm than good if you are depressed or suicidal. Try to talk to someone because you matter. Supporting someone experiencing depressive or suicidal thoughts is no easy task, but doing things such as smiling at them and listening to them will help both of you. Although each person involved in suicide prevention experiences different struggles, they all deserve to find ways to cope.