September is Suicide Prevention Month 💔 #suicideprevention . . In the UK, there were 5656 suicides documented in 2023, where nearly 75% were documented as men. Suicide rates have been increasing over the last few years. We say about how talking about suicide helps people who are feeling so alone in it all, but knowing HOW to talk about it - especially as a professional in a supporting role - is important too. I see so many posts where people have reached out in the past to professionals and have ended up being stigmatised, dismissed, or blamed. We need to do better! One of my personal experiences of this. Years ago, in tears, talking to my doctor about my antidepressants and increasing the dosage because I'm not coping. Talk about suidice ideation. On the way out, the door, I get told, "Don't do anything stupid." 🙃 So, how do we talk to people when they share their emotional pain with us? 💚 Firstly, listen. And listen some more. They have taken a big step to confide in you. 💚 Thank them for sharing with you and trusting you. 💚 Offer empathy, let them feel heard. You don't need to give advice or your opinion on it all. They need the space. If you want, you can ask, "Do you need space to vent, or do you want to look at solutions/support options?" 💚 If you don't feel able to hold this yourself, suggest looking into support with them or being with them whilst they dial the number for a helpline. 💚 Check in with them. You can absolutely have your boundaries if you don't have the headspace to be there completely. So the check in may be to ask how they're doing as an open question or as a more boundaried "how did you get on with the helpline." 💚 Get yourself support. It's amazing they trust you, but it can be heavy to hold. Mind has some amazing resources on this. Helplines: Samaritans - 116 123 or email or live chat or in person at some centres Papyrus - 08000684141 or text 88247 CALM - 0800585858 or live chat Shout - text 85258 Suicide Prevention Helpline - 08006895652 NHS crisis support - dial 111 Sane - 0300-304-7000 Stay Alive App Anything you'd add? ✨️ . . image text Accept thoughts, but don’t become them. Understand, for instance, that having a sad thought, even having a continual succession of sad thoughts, is not the same as being a sad person. You can walk through a storm and feel the wind but you know you are not the wind.” - Matt Haig https://lnkd.in/eaqK4KhF
Jody McDonald
2mo
Such a helpful post on such an important matter. Thank you.
Eczema, ADHD, autism & anxiety counsellor (email, video, phone) - PNCPS(Acc.)
2moThis is a really useful post, thank you.