Suicide Prevention Month

Sep 28

As some of you know September is Suicide Awareness month. Even though suicide is a very taboo topic, talking about it is something that is very important to me as both a therapist and an individual. Not only do I know that many people struggle or have struggled with suicidal thoughts and attempts, I, too, am not immune from the struggles of suicidal ideation.

Throughout a lot of my childhood and into adulthood I struggled with varying degrees of suicidal ideation (thoughts of suicide which can either be passive, ruminating, or consuming). At a certain point of my journey to heal and reconnect with who I was and am, I had to start sharing and exploring when and why these thoughts would occur.

I remember when I finally started talking about the suicidal ideation I was struggling with how “weak and vulnerable” I felt. I look back on it now and realize I was being anything but weak- I was demonstrating incredible strength! On the other hand, I was being incredibly vulnerable. Vulnerability is an amazing thing. Growing up I tended to think of it as a “bad” thing or trait to have. As I have gotten older I have learned to step into it. Do not get me wrong, I still tend to fight against it and roll my eyes at times when I don’t want to be vulnerable. However, I have learned that when I am vulnerable I connect the most with those around me and myself, and that those connections don't just happen; they also require me to feel and be safe within those relationships.

Learning to embrace vulnerability is an important key to managing suicidal ideation. As someone who specializes in managing suicidal ideation, creating safe spaces for each unique client is very important to my therapeutic approach. My passion for working with adolescents and young adults stems from recognizing the need, value, and joy in supporting them through the stress of the vast changes, growth, demands, and societal pressures that comes with that time of life and that all too often lead them to struggle with suicidal ideation. Reaching out for help, talking with someone, and gaining skills to manage all that we're struggling with can lessen the load and help save a life.

See below for a few warning signs to look out for if you think a loved one (or yourself) is struggling as well as helpful responses and resources.

Warning signs:

Expressing hopelessness
Seeing oneself as a burden to others
Marked changes in behaviors, goals, and/or emotions
Engaging in more “risky’ behaviors
Withdrawing from supports
Talking about suicide

Talking to someone who is struggling can be difficult. We tend to overthink and not know what to say.

Here are some things you can say:

Ask them! A lot of times we indirectly ask about people's thoughts of suicide. Instead, we want to ask blatantly if they are suicidal.
If in need of immediate help, call 911
Validate them, meaning accepting them where they are without judgement: