When The Answer Seems To Be Suicide, IT'S NOT

11% of the suicide rate are teenagers. The rest, are adults or the elderly. Those who are feeling suicidal understand that it's a silent crisis because it's a silent struggle. Although it is a silent crisis, it is a leading cause of injury and death worldwide.

While you're reading this, a person somewhere in the world is attempting suicide. Every 40 seconds, a person dies from suicide. That's how severe this problem is. Not only that, but families, friends, or colleagues of that person are affected by this tragedy. Loss, grief, or confusion are felt — it then creates a mental health decline.

With the COVID-19 pandemic happening, reports all over the world about suicide, spiked or increased. Individuals are affected. These range from government officials like the state finance minister in Germany, to a doctor or worker in the front lines, or to a person who just got laid off from a job.

Today's time is hard for everyone, and that includes you. You've been trying your best to keep up and move forward. You may be struggling with what's happening around you, and that's okay.

So, if you've been having thoughts to end your life, to try out your suicidal thoughts, let this be your wake-up call. SUICIDE IS NOT YOUR ANSWER.

Here are the things you should remember if you're feeling suicidal:

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YOU ARE RESILIENT

The vice president of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman, said, "..one event can bring stress, but it's not going to make someone suicidal out of the blue".

This means that it's a combination of environmental and biological factors. You're stronger and more resilient than you think.

You're capable of overcoming stressful situations, and you can recover from this. If you're feeling suicidal, it means that you feel knocked down. It means you've lost hope. No one wants to feel that way. But haven't you noticed? You've been knocked off your feet multiple times throughout your life. And yet, you're still here. You can pick yourself up and move forward.

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YOU ARE NOT A HOPELESS CASE

Persistent and extremely stressful conditions influence suicidal thoughts. Experiencing stress is normal. Down days are stressful. With that, you might feel hopeless if you've been continuously experiencing down days.

What you're feeling can be sadness, emptiness, or frustration. These are all valid feelings that lead to hopelessness. Situations that trigger these feelings are joblessness, pandemics, loss of a loved one, money or work problems, abuse, racism, or relationship issues. If you're experiencing one or more of these, it's okay to feel negative about it.

Validating what you're feeling is better than denying that there is a real problem. What's great about this is that all of these are problems with a solution.

Validating your feelings means acknowledging the situation and how you feel about it without any judgment or criticism.

Feeling suicidal is a result of your view about yourself. Suicidal thoughts can be a product of the overlapping criticisms you compiled about yourself. If you criticize yourself less, it can minimize your destructive thoughts.

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YOU CAN BE HELPED AND GIVEN SUPPORT

When you're consumed by thoughts to end your life, or you're feeling suicidal, instead of following through, take a pause. Breathe in and slowly breathe out. After that, tell yourself, "I need help."

Asking for help is human. It doesn't mean you're weak. In today's time, anyone can find help anywhere. Help is offered through various support systems. Friends, family, mental health services, or suicide help hotlines are available.

When you're feeling suicidal, you must acknowledge the need for support. The best type of suicide help support is to consult a mental health professional.

Feeling suicidal can be an indication of a mental disorder. So, it's vital to seek help in places equipped to help you out. Licensed mental health professionals are the only ones who can identify, diagnose, and provide you with healthy coping techniques.

Various suicide resources are also available. Most of it is just a call or a chat away.

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Here are suicide help hotlines you can reach out to:
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American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

a. Crisis Text Line - Text "Home" to 741741

b. Suicide Help Hotline- Call 800-273-8255

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline- 1-800-273-TALK

Boys Town National Hotline- Call 800-448-3000

California Youth Crisis Line- Call or text 1-800-843-5200

Careline Crisis Intervention (Alaska) - Call (907) 452 4357

or 1-877-266 4357

C.O.P.E. Center Helpline (Greater Milwaukee)- Contact 262-377-2673

Crisis Line of Central Virginia- Dial (804) 947-4357 or 1-888-947-9747

Crisis Services of North Alabama- (256) 716-1000 or 1-800-691-8426

Crisis Support Services of Nevada- 1 800-273-8255

EMPACT‒Suicide Prevention Center (Arizona) - 480-784-1500

New Hope Crisis Telephone Hotline (California)- 714-639-4673

Other Suicide Help Hotlines across the world

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