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Lets talk about suicide

6/13/2018

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Suicide is one of those topics that many find very difficult to talk about. Unfortunately the issue of suicide is not going to go away and the only time we seem to talk around it, is when a known celebrity or some type of mass murder ending by suicide occurs. The issue of suicide is a real social problem and as a license clinical social working, the discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation is a regular part of daily my conversation in sessions.


Some of the risk factors associated with suicide ideation and suicide attempts are: mental illness, substance abuse, feeling hopeless and unloved, wanting to stop the pain, made a bad decision, philosophical views about death and dying, and crying out for help just to name a few.


Statistics show that nearly 40,000 people die from suicide in the United States every year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list suicide as the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. It is estimated that a young person dies from suicide at least every two hours. That’s a disturbing number. What’s even more disturbing for me, is that most people who attempt suicide, never seek professional help.


Suicide is not just an individual issue, rather I t is a problem that effects everyone who is connected to the person who’s attempted, and succeeded with suicide. Family, and friends alike tends to carry the burden of a loved one who’s ended his/her life by suicide. Preventing suicide is not an easy task and it takes everyone’s support to spread awareness. Society has complicated this process by attaching a negative stigma on people who tries to share their thoughts of committing suicide.


One of the biggest ways we can prevent suicides from occurring is by teaching individuals how to recognize the signs, how to become more aware, and how to become open and sensitive to hearing and allowing others to share their pain. In order to do this properly, there are a few things that one should understand about suicide. Knowing these truths can help to spread awareness and hopefully to prevent the inevitable from occurring:


  1. Suicide is a worldwide health problem The World Health Organization estimates 800,000 die by suicide every year, which equates to about one death from suicide every 40 seconds. Only about 5% of those suicides happens in the U.S.
  2. If an individual has tried suicide once and was not divided they are at a greater risk of attempting it again. At least 20% of people who died by suicide made at least 1 prior attempt.
  3. Just because someone has attempted suicide does not mean that person wants to die. More times than not the individual is in so much pain and all that person wants is for the pain to just stop. That is too news, because that means there is still hope for you to be able to help the individual.
  4. Please whatever you do, Don’t be afraid to ask if your loved one been thinking about, feeling, or attempted suicide. Talking to your loved one about their suicidal ideation can actually help lower their risk of attempting or trying again.
  5. Lastly, take every threat or discussion about suicide as real. Never assume that the person will not follow through and that they are doing it for attention. People who talk about it eventually will try it, so don’t be dismissive.


For anyone that may be struggling or know someone who is battling with depression and thoughts of suicide , please know, there is help. You don’t have to handle depression or any other serious mental illness on your own. You can always talk to a loved one, a Pastor, a friend, a teacher, or a neighbor. If you do not have someone to turn to, you can call the suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-TALK.


Other online available resources:


  1. www.stopasuicide.org: This organization provides people with warning signs of suicide so you can help prevent others from such an act.
  2. www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org: This organization allows people to call or chat online with a suicide prevention counselor.
  3. www.thetrevorproject.org: This organization offers life-affirming programs to members of the LGBTQ youth community at risk for suicide.


Reference:


  1. Suicide prevention (SUPRE). (n.d.). World Health Organization. Retrieved August 22, 2014, from http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/
  2. Suicide facts. Suicide Awareness Voices of Education. Retrieved August 18, 2014, from http://www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=705D5DF4-055B-F1EC-3F66462866FCB4E6


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Love Yourself Above All Else

6/3/2018

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Sometimes the trials of life can become overwhelming and the load may seem to heavy to bear. It’s very easy to get weighed down by the trials of life.  One thing I have learned is that, in this life you can’t expect for others to make you happy.  This is what it is so important to have an internal sense of self worth and an intrinsic sense of peace that you carry within yourself. As you continue to live and grow, the circumstances of life, and having to deal with people will teach you this.

The bottoms line is this, you should never have to force someone to like you, or love you.  Why force someone to be with you, or share your space if that is not what they really want. When someone has a desire to be with you, to love you, and to spend their time with you, you will know it.  That feeling or thought of loneliness can cause one to do desperate things and make really unhappy decisions.  

So I say to anyone that may be feeling lonely or alone in this season of your life, just know for yourself that you are not alone, and that you can be and feel fulfilled if you just learn to love yourself.

Love comes when you are able to stop looking to others to fulfill your need.  Love is about feeling a sense of security in knowing who you are and what matters most.  Love is not envious, boastful or jealous, but it’s patient caring, and kind.  Love is what you do more-so that what you feel. If you can’t do anything else, I implore you to start working on self love today.  You can Love yourself first and take the Love of God with you. 

So what is self love?  Self-love occurs when you can treat yourself with the same kindness, concern, and support you would show to a friend. Stop looking to others, or expecting others to be for you what they are unable to be, and  start being what you can be, to yourself. Find what makes you happy and become one with it. Remember, your happiness should not be predicated on the presence of another person, or what that person can give to you, or do for you.

This is one of life lesson that I had to learn for myself. Im so glad I learned this principal as it has made my life better.  Now that I truly understand the importance of self love, I want to share it with you.  I pray for any one who is reading this, that you will be able to let go of chasing expectations and release any negative thoughts that captivates your mind. I hope that you find some inspiration in this passage and that it will give you peace to move forward and create your own happiness.

~Angel 6/2018~
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    Author

    I'm a licensed Clinical Social worker, license to work in the State of Pennsylvania.  I have over 19 years experience working in the Mental Health Field as a Child Welfare Worker, Administrator, Consultant, Educator and Clinician. I'm dedicated and committed to the work I do which includes impacting and changing lives.  In my spare time I like to write poetry, watch movies, and share my thoughts through blogging.

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