I was planning for my next post to be about how I’m feeling after I left my inpatient stay, but after the deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, I felt compelled to write about a different topic: suicide.
Many people are at a loss as to how they can help others that are going through a crisis. Here are a few suggestions:
- Never be afraid to ask someone if they need help or want to talk
- Never be afraid to use the word “suicide”. If you think someone is contemplating it, ask them straight out. Using that word isn’t going to push them towards it, it may actually do the opposite
- Never judge. Be there unconditionally
- If it is a family member or close friend, NEVER say something like, “This is affecting me too”. This moment is NOT about you, it’s about them
- Reassure them that they are loved, worthy, and that help is available
One of the most important things you can do is to have the Nation Suicide Prevention Lifeline number readily available. A good idea is to write it down on several slips of paper and keep them in your wallet. You never know when you will run across someone who desperately needs it. Something as small as a slip of paper could actually save a life.
1-800-273-TALK
1-800-273-8255
The Pharmacist on Mental Health 