What can we do if someone around us has suicidal thoughts? How can we help them cope with this difficult time? Find out how you can support them.
It can be a very distressing situation if a loved one is going through a difficult time in their life and you believe or have suicidal thoughts . When faced with this delicate situation, there are some tips that you should take into account to deal with it. Even so, it is always necessary to seek professional help at the first signs. But what can we do to prevent suicide or help in these difficult times?
Myths about suicide
There are some ideas that can be harmful if you are trying to help someone who is having suicidal thoughts . Some of the most common myths are:
- Myth: Talking about suicide will make someone think about suicide . Fact: Talking about suicide does not make it more likely to happen. In fact, talking about it helps reduce stigma, as well as allow people who are in this situation to find emotional relief. Once people talk openly about it, they are more likely to seek professional help.
- Myth: People who talk about suicide don’t mean it and won’t do it. Fact: People who take their own lives by suicide may be indirectly communicating their intentions by saying that they feel life isn’t worth living these days or that they see the future as very hopeless. Therefore, if someone talks to you about suicide, it’s important to take it seriously and encourage them to seek help.
- Myth: You have to have a mental disorder to think about suicide. Fact: Not everyone who thinks about suicide has a mental health problem. Not everyone who commits suicide has a mental health problem. In fact, it can happen because we are going through hardships in our lives that create emotions that are difficult to manage.
- Myth: If a person is seriously considering suicide, there is nothing their friends or family can do. Fact: Suicide is not inevitable and can be prevented. In fact, most people who have suicidal thoughts do not end up taking their own lives.
How can we help prevent suicide?
If someone is having suicidal thoughts or you think they might be having suicidal thoughts, it is important to make it clear that you need to listen to them and provide them with the support they need to seek help and know they can count on you. Some of the ways you can help in this situation are:
- Pay attention to their emotional needs: People who have suicidal thoughts need to be listened to because they are going through a moment of great emotional pain. Therefore, one of the first steps is to listen to them and give them the support they need.
- Ask questions about how they feel: Instead of trying to avoid these types of questions, it is important to give space to their feelings. This does not mean asking directly about suicidal thoughts, but rather trying to understand why the person is feeling bad right now.
- Give them time: Sometimes it can be difficult for a person to communicate these difficult thoughts or feelings, so it’s important to be patient and never force these responses.
- Don’t judge: When faced with these types of thoughts or intentions, it is crucial to not show judgment. It is completely normal to feel shocked, upset or scared, but it will not help you to judge the person when you talk about it. In fact, you should keep in mind that the person has taken a big step by telling you.
- Don’t dwell on the topic: Once the person has spoken about their thoughts related to suicide, it is important to remove the taboo that we may experience due to cultural influence. So, instead of avoiding the topic itself, it will be more helpful to ask about the feelings, emotions or thoughts related to it.
- Don’t provide solutions: In many cases, when faced with a problem, there are many people who can try to provide certain solutions. When dealing with such complicated difficulties, it is important to leave aside advice. Suicidal thoughts can be caused by many different factors, so trying to provide a solution can be counterproductive or increase the sufferer’s feelings of frustration.
- Take care of yourself and encourage self-care: One of the best ways to help someone who is having suicidal thoughts or going through a tough time is to help them take care of themselves both physically and mentally. Therefore, meeting up to exercise, talk about hobbies, or do a hobby you have in common can be helpful in offering support during these times.
- Support them to seek therapy: If a friend or family member is talking about or having suicidal thoughts, it is crucial that they seek help immediately. Therefore, given these statements we must insist that you seek professional help as soon as possible.
As we can see, presence can be a determining factor in preventing suicide . Therefore, in these cases, the key is to help the person feel listened to, supported and, above all, not judged by the environment in which they live.