Everyone is familiar with 911 but few are familiar with 988. 988 is a 24hours a day- 7 day a week lifeline to help those in crisis
#BeThe1To #suicideprevention #askforhelp #bemindfulofothers #everyonehasburdens #silentstruggles #bepartofthesolution
Suicide Prevention...let us all be part of the solution
Mental health continues to be a subject that many people struggle to talk about. We hear on a daily basis in the news of people struggling with this but its easy to shrug it off as though, that's not my problem. This would be the wrong approach. Statistically speaking, at some point, each and every one of us will either battle some sort of a mental health setback such as either depression or anxiety at some point during our lives. Some of these setbacks can be situational and fleeting while others linger. The problem is not necessarily that one is experiencing a downward turn of our mental health. The problem comes when you are not able to rebound out or climb out of these feelings. If one is stuck in this position of depression or anxiety, that is where the problem comes. These feelings can seep into every aspect of our lives.
It is up to each of us to do our part and help each other out. We are all part of one community or another and we need to make sure we look out for each other.
Many people silently are struggling with an internal dilemma or battle that we just don't know about. They may present themselves outwardly as happy and full of life while internally they are hurting. There are may many reasons for their being unwell and that is not up to us to judge the why. We never know what type of problems people have in their life so as the saying goes, kindness doesn't cost anything and goes along way. For some, their mental health may be suffering from some type of a physical pain that is compounding and causing mental strain while for others it may purely be a mental pain.
Those suffering may be concerned about perceptions or repercussions the may come if they share what they are going through. Many will think about the ramifications of even admitting they are struggling much less seek help. The worry that by sharing their feelings, people may look at them differently or it may even effect their employment status if it was known can prevent many from getting the help they need. It may be just a safer option in their minds to just internalize things and battle it alone that will prevent them from seeking the help they need.
Some may be having an internal turmoil or struggle with something in their past. Unresolved trauma from childhood or the loss of a loved one can be very difficult to deal with. For some, they have trouble only during certain times of the year such as the holidays while for others its an anniversary of some event that triggers the episode. These internal struggles may not manifest right away, some may take weeks, months or even years and then suddenly they are triggered.
It is important to note that helping does not mean stepping into a role of counselor or care giver. Helping means opening up and having discussions. By opening up discussions, our friends and loved ones know we care and they have a place to turn to talk. They need to know no matter what, that they are loved and people care about them. It is important that we all do what we can to recognize those suffering.
Recognize signs of one who is struggling...Signs include the following but are not limited to... (list is gathered from the 988lifeline.org website. For the full list click the links attached)
Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
Talking about being a burden to others
Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
Sleeping too little or too much
Withdrawing or isolating themselves
Extreme mood swings
When people show any concerning signs or other behaviors that are recognized, helping connect those people to the resources they need to get help is essential. For some this starts with scheduling an appointment with a mental health specialist and/or your provider. This is the first step toward getting the problem addressed and the health care provider can help craft a plan.
Become comfortable with asking if someone has thoughts of harming themselves. When in any doubt call the suicide/lifeline 988 number. They are trained professionals and can help get your loved one and friend the help they need.
Suicide Prevention...let us all be part of the solution
**Please take note, my views are my own and are not associated or representative of my employer(s). This website and its associated platforms are for education purposes only and not medical advice.
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