10 Safety Measures to Prevent Suicide
Having a good life doesn’t mean you will not suffer from depression. When things are going wrong, it is beneficial to have friends and family you can talk to. Talking to a mental health professional regarding mental turmoil helps. Depression can debilitate, but mental health patients can get well and live a contented life. But people with depression can veer towards suicide. Let me share 10 Safety Measures to Prevent Suicide.
If you have been grappling with suicidal feelings, remember you are not alone. People battling severe depression have notions of taking their lives. It is essential to note that these thoughts don’t have to lead to action. Life is always evolving and there will be unforeseen circumstances that will make you despair. But remember this too will pass and no matter how despairing the situation, it will not last. Your situation may seem bleak, but the key is not to lose hope or give up.
There are many complementary and alternative therapies to handle depression these days. Keep an open mind and try every option there is. I have been in this space and I share first-hand that there is nothing you cannot overcome. Meanwhile, there are ways you can emulate to help you cope with your mental state.
What are the Signs of Suicide?
This is not a comprehensive list but sharing common indications of people who are considering suicide
- Large Mood swings
- Proclaiming that they are feeling helpless, worthless, and worthless
- Talk about wanting to die
- Conveying that there is no reason to go on living
- Detach from friends, family, and social exchanges
- Write and analyse about death
- Dependency on alcohol or drugs
- Aggressive or Violent attitude
- Buying a weapon or amassing pills
- Intensified anxiety
10 Safety Measures to Prevent Suicide
- Call a Suicide Hotline
Don’t hesitate, as suicide hotlines are for crisis situations. The counsellor can help you vent your feelings and convince you to give up on the thought of committing suicide. You can stay anonymous yet answer relevant questions, be heard and be helped with a safety net.
2. Seek Professional Help
If you are not currently receiving treatment for your depression, it is important to reach out for help. And if you are undergoing treatment but it is not working, then talk to your doctor to help you out with a different treatment. Try medications, psychotherapy or complementary and alternative treatment to get better.
3. Live in a Safe Environment
Get rid of guns, pills or any other items that would tempt you to try suicide. A better alternative would be to visit friends or family. It is definitely difficult but confide in them. Do not wait for them to understand or gauge your intentions, as they may be clueless about your thoughts. For example, you can say,” Hi Moushmi, I might need help as I don’t feel ok. I might harm myself. Can I visit you to tide over this feeling?” This is something I am sharing from personal experience. Reaching out helped me not to harm myself.
4. Medication or Not?
There are many antidepressants and the one you are using may not be working for you. Do not despair. There are many options. Antidepressants take about 3 weeks to work. Talk to your doctor and find the right combination and dosage that works for you. Again, do not give up.
5. Avoid Alcohol and Drugs
It is easy to succumb to temptation and reach out to alcohol and drugs to escape reality. But, they actually intensify your symptoms and can make the situation worse. While it may be tempting to hide from emotional pain by using drugs or alcohol, this is actually a bad idea. They may lower your inhibitions and drive you towards acting out on your suicidal thoughts. Intoxicants are not a cure but self-care is. Good food, exercise and a good night’s sleep can help you feel better.
10 Safety Measures to Prevent Suicide
6. Crisis Management
If you relate your depression to losing a job, losing a loved one or any such situation, then address these issues. Seek help to get a job or talk to a friend to get rid of your grief or even a life coach. Take baby steps and not leap to get to your goals.
7. Start a Gratitude Journal
See that your cup is half full and not empty. When in despair, we focus on the negatives. List out all the positive things in your life. Keep a gratitude journal and every morning and night, write them down or chant them. This will help you subdue the negative thoughts.
8. Do not Isolate Yourself
Do not isolate yourself and shun people. Instead, seek company, step out, take a walk, do some retail therapy, or even a social gathering or place of worship. This is just a distraction and can help you distract yourself from negative thoughts of harming yourself.
9. Talk to Someone
Talking to someone you trust and expressing yourself helps in clearing your mind. It could be family, a friend, or a therapist who will listen to you and try to deal with your suicidal thoughts and talk you out of it. Share your thoughts and ask for help.
10. Recall Past Experiences
Change is inevitable. Remember, nothing lasts forever. Recall past episodes when you have overcome the feeling of despair. Recollect what you did and what helped you before. Repeat the same and tell yourself that this too shall pass. You overcame them before and emerged as a stronger person. You can do it again.
Depression is a mental health test that makes you feel very sad all the time. It can change your perspective, feelings, and actions. It clouds your thinking, making you feel sad, lost, and unloved. You will not feel like doing everyday things. In such a situation, always remember that as your body gets sick, you take treatment and medicines. Mental health also needs to be addressed in the same way.
Few Hotlines in India
Mumbai: I Call–022-25521111 (Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pm)
Telangana: Roshini (040-66202000) – 9AM – 11 PM
Tamil Nadu: Sneha – 044-24640059 – 24 X 7
This post is part of Blogchatter’s CauseAChatter’
Depression really changes how you think today and how you visualize your future too. It is like wearing a dark glasses and seeing everything through that lens. The safety measures you have listed can really save a life!
This is such a helpful post, Harjeet. Mental heath related issues are on a rise worldwide, it’s important that people realize that just like there are medications and treatments for physical ailments, they can reach out to professionals for help related to the mental health problems too.
This is such a helpful blog post. Yes! You said it right, we all go through it n need someone to talk to to vent out our feelings.
M sharing the blogpost in my whtsapp group with especially New moms who are not able to deal with a newborn. I hope this blog posts reaches the maximum number of people who needs help.
People don’t even realize when they fall into this trap of depression, it’s a slow process but can be very brutal, your post can be very helpful to people who are fighting with mental issues.. Thanks for sharing such an insightful post.
This Is so very helpful to people who avoid company and are in depression. Getting the courage to accept that you need help is the most crucial step. Thanks for sharing this
The fact is that depression arrives in each one of our life at some point or the other but attempting for suicide is not a solution. We need to make best possible effort to restrict self and others from attempting suicide. the above points are really beneficial for each one of us.
I like that ‘start a gratitude journal ‘. I think all of us should have that right from the start and it helps a lot (mentally). Good pointers Harjeet!
It’s one of your wonderful post ..it must be shared ..it must be read by most ..as it’s much needed to know all this information.
Depression can leave a person feeling helpless and drive their mind towards suicide and self harm. You have listed some really good pointers to help out and specially the one about journaling is so good. I thing journalling cam really help a person.