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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNeed advice on helping (recent) survivor of suicide attempt
I'm not finding great advice on the net.
Friend has experienced a very deep and painful loss that it seems a few people are constantly reminding her of. Regret not asking them to knock that shit off and sending them a link to the circles of grieving thing.
I'm hoping
You guys have better links and advice that I've found so far. Thanks and best wishes for the new year.
femmedem
(8,201 posts)1. Know that second by second, she or he is capable of surviving the worst pain. S/he's already done it. It won't get worse. It will get better.
2. If she or he is feeling any guilt about the loss: she or he did the best s/he could with the knowledge s/he had at the time.
3. Are there any plans to try it again? If yes, try to get a promise to contact you before taking any action.
4. If it's about the loss of a loved one: it's not a betrayal to move forward with one's life. It's not a betrayal to laugh sometimes. It's not a betrayal to go a minute or a day without thinking of the loved one. It's what the loved one would have wanted.
5. Listen without judgment. (But I know you already do this.)
6. Take care of yourself, too. Listening to trauma can, itself, be traumatic.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)take a break to a totally different environment. It is Road Trip time,worked for us and our Friend.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)I know she has anxiety that she may not have that gig much longer due to a band mates failing health.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)It really does work. Entertainment Industry is brutal to say the least. The wear and tear on the Human Psychic in it's self,creates all kinds of issues. Way past time to head for the Hills with some quality down time with out the damn cell phone.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Are drugs or alcohol involved?
IF friend is NOW talking suicide and you live in a state with mandatory treatment, call the local Mental Health to find out how to get a 72 hour hold which will provide instant evaluation.
If friend wants help, and is not talking suicide, have him/her make urgent appt. with local Mental Health
or even with a doctor for anti-depressants.
Mental Health is better because they know how to check for what kind of suicidal ideations the friend has, there are several varieties.
also important not to leave friend alone, and I would encourage offering to drive friend to the appts. for help.
I worked in Mental Health , and as Crisis counselor for years..both Fla. and Ala. have mandatory holds for suicidal people where they can be evaluated and given meds. quickly.
If friend is drugging and/ or drinking ( including pain meds) it is urgent you call Mental Health hotline for help.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Be leaving treatment soon, possibly today.
She lost her son a few years ago. No drugs and only light alcohol usage involved. Her family is great except for one brother who is a bull in a china shop and brings up her sons death (posting pics) on FB at least a couple times a month in addition to other fairly selfish ego centric behavior. I guess it's a bad time to tell him how fucked up that is.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Since she has had treatment and help, she needs to follow their advice.
Glad to hear it is not urgent situation.
you can google for How to help depressed friend and I am sure all sorts of info will pop up.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)get him to rethink his drama posting on FB.
If not I'm sending him a link to that circles thing.
mercuryblues
(14,531 posts)that your friend is going through this.
I almost didn't click on this link, because well, wiki. It does have some useful advice. The #1 is just listening, no judging.
http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Friends-with-Someone-Who-Attempted-Suicide
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,425 posts)I'm not posting this for the publicity, but because I haven't posted the links to the many suicide prevention hotlines in several months.
The story, hat tip to ARLnow.com: Morning Notes News by ARLnow.com April 14, 2015 at 8:55 am
Notice to the Community
Vice President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler sent the following message to the campus community April 13, 2015 - Ed.
Dear William & Mary Community,
There is no message worse than the one I share with you today. With profound sadness, I am writing to tell you of the death of one of our students, {P. S.}, a sophomore from Arlington, Va., who took his own life in the early morning hours today. The WMPD responded immediately after receiving a 911 call from one of his friends.
In 2013 {P. S.} graduated first in his class from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, VA. A talented student, he had yet to declare a major at W&M. {P. S.} was also a passionate performer. In January he played one of the swashbucklers in Sinfonicron Light Opera Company's The Pirates of Penzance, and he was to have performed this month in the premiere of a new W&M student-written, faculty-directed play. Many on campus have delighted in {P. S.'s} talent and wit, enjoying especially his comedic flair as a member of the university's Improvisational Theater (I.T.).
....
TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITY
This has been a difficult and painful year for the William & Mary family and many of us are grieving. I hope the following might be useful in the days and months ahead. Especially in the wake of the deaths that have affected our community, I want to share some information specifically about suicide and suicide prevention.
About Suicide
According to national resources such as the Jed Foundation and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), one in ten college students has at one time considered suicide, and suicide is the third leading cause of death nationally among those 15-24 years of age. Almost all who die by suicide are suffering from an emotional disorder, most commonly depression. As the AFSP notes, "90% of all people who die by suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death." Therefore, identifying and treating these illnesses is especially important; someone with an untreated emotional disorder may be more likely to attempt suicide in the wake of stressful life events.
Recognizing Warning Signs
The most effective way to help in preventing suicide is to recognize warning signs, take those signs seriously, and respond appropriately. Fortunately, people who are suicidal CAN be helped with the proper treatment. Common warning signs of suicide include:
Hopelessness
Rage, uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge
Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking
Feeling trapped, like there is no way out
Increased alcohol or drug use
Withdrawing from friends, family, and society
Anxiety, agitation, inability to sleep or sleeping all the time
Dramatic mood changes
Expressing no reason for living or no purpose in life
Inability to see the future without pain
Inability to make decisions or think clearly
Decision to stop taking prescribed medication for depression or other psychological disorder
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
How To Respond if You are Concerned About Someone
DO Listen and offer support in a non-judgmental way
DO Help the person explore feelings
DO Widen options and explore alternatives for problem solving
DO Ask direct questions about the person's intentions; ask if the person is considering suicide
DO Communicate your concern for the person's well being
DO Recommend that the person contact a mental health professional
DO Call a professional yourself and offer to accompany the person to an initial appointment
DO Call the police if you believe the risk of suicide is immediate
DON'T say "everything will be alright"
DON'T dare the person to "do it"
DON'T tell the person about someone who "has it worse"
DON'T promise secrecy to the suicidal person
DON'T leave the person alone if you believe the risk of suicide is imminent
William & Mary Resources
There are many campus resources available to give assistance to you and/or someone else in crisis. Looking out for friends and loved ones is an especially important part of helping to prevent suicide. In a community as close-knit as ours, we can do a great deal to reach out to one another in support.
EMERGENCY -- Call 911
The Counseling Center, {area code, 757} 221-3620
The Student Health Center, 221-4386
The W&M Police, 221-4596
The Dean of Students Office, 221-2510
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255
After hours, the dispatcher at the police department coordinates communication with all on-call professionals, including live-in residence life staff, the dean on-call, and the counselor on-call.
From July: Need help? In the U.S. or Canada, call 1-800-273-8255
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Ayuda en Español
¿Qué pasa cuando llamo?
Cuando usted llama al número 1-888-628-9454, su llamada se dirige al centro de ayuda de nuestra red disponible más cercano. Tenemos actualmente 150 centros en la red y usted hablará probablemente con uno situado en su zona. Cada centro funciona en forma independiente y tiene su propio personal calificado.
Veterans Crisis Line
Young Adults
ETA this comment to the article at Gawker:
Mississippi Tea Party Leader Commits Suicide After Conspiracy Arrest
jtstillwater {responding to Allie Jones}
Yesterday 12:18pm
Before anyone jokes about this guy's suicide, I should say that whenever someone with a mental illness (hi!) reads about a suicide, there's a certain amount of fear the thought process is sort of like, "Well I always tell myself I wouldn't do it, but clearly some people do, so what's saying that won't change?"
No question he did something awful, no question his political beliefs are unreasonable. But suicide is a horror.
Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255
And, yes, I do find this scary.
April really is the cruelest month (if I am not mistaken):
The Season of Renewal and Suicide
Why are people more likely to kill themselves in springtime than during the holidays?
By Brian Palmer
The suicide rate does not peak during the holidays, and the media should stop saying it does, according to a report released Tuesday by the Annenberg Public Policy Center. In fact, the suicide rate is highest in spring and summer. The holiday suicide-spike myth persists because it has a convenient narrative: Lonely people become despondent around Christmastime. So why do people kill themselves in the spring?
Possibly because they interact more. Doctors first observed in the 1820s that suicide rates spike during late spring. Researchers have since postulated and tested all sorts of explanations for the global phenomenon, making this one of the most studied questions in psychiatry. Theres still no consensus, but evidence suggests it has to do with so-called sociodemographic factors. During the winter, many people go into semihibernation: They work less, see fewer people, and are exposed to less frustration and conflict. That all changes in the spring, when increased interaction with others and the stress of work may trigger suicidal thoughts. The theory is based on a couple of observations. First, the spring suicide peak is more pronounced among people employed on farms or in factories who experience greater seasonal variation in the intensity of work and social interactions. In addition, developing countries with a higher proportion of agricultural workers see more seasonal change in the suicide rate than do developed countries. The magnitude of seasonal changes in the suicide rate is more than 10 times higher in Uruguay, for example, than in Belgium. Researchers have also detected a smoothing out of the seasonal variation in suicides in recent decades as more people move from farm to office. (There are smaller peaks in other parts of the year. Cubicle workers are more likely to commit suicide in the fall than in the spring, as are mothers who send their children off to school in September.)
In Britain: Male suicide rates: 'My father left and took his own life'
....
Are you affected by this?
Samaritans provides emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or thoughts of suicide
Its number is 08457 90 90 90
Rethink Mental Illness has more than 200 mental health services and 150 support groups across England.
Its number is 0300 5000 927
List of suicide crisis lines
3catwoman3 replied:
IIRC, under "dramatic mood changes," it should include...
...paying attention when someone has been despondent and is suddenly more cheerful. Rather than meaning the person is feeling better, it can be a sign that a suicide plan has been finalized and the person is more cheerful because an end to suffering is anticipated.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(57,425 posts)I was going to say "my pleasure," but that's not right. Make it "my assignment."
I know the keywords in the post, so I can find it right away. The whole cut and paste took an entire three minutes.
I am not a member of any medical care profession. I'm just someone on the internet who can find an open keyboard. Keep that in mind.
Still, remember that depression is not the opposite of happiness. It is the opposite of resilience.
Happy New Year.
renate
(13,776 posts)Or charges on a sliding scale, if she doesn't have insurance:
https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
The drop-down menu in the upper right can help you narrow things down. It might save a lot of time that you'd otherwise have to spend calling around randomly.
She doesn't have to be actively suicidal to call a crisis line. 800-273-8255.
Still, having said that: You might want to remove any means (guns, pills) just for an extra measure of safety.
Is there a grief support group near her? Could online resources help (e.g. blogs or articles) so she doesn't feel so alone in her loss?
I'm not sure Reddit has a 100% good reputation overall, but subreddits can be good: maybe
https://www.reddit.com/r/Grieving/
and look on the right-hand side for other possible subreddits like
https://www.reddit.com/r/GriefSupport/
And I think your just being there for her is incredibly helpful. Don't be afraid to ask her point-blank whether she's feeling suicidal again if your radar goes off. If she is it can be a relief for her to get it off her chest.