With National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in our midst, so many charities, organizations and even individuals are standing up to suicide and informing the general public on the severity of untreated mental illnesses. You may be asking yourself, how does this apply to me? Well, in some cases it may not, but you would be surprised to know how many people die by suicide every year. While suicide is not the leading cause of death among teenagers today, it is still very prevalent in children ages 10-14 and even in young adults ages 18-24.
WorldHealthOrganization.com says, “An estimated 703,000 people a year take their life around the world. For every suicide, there are likely 20 other people making a suicide attempt and many more having serious thoughts of suicide. Millions of people suffer intense grief or are otherwise profoundly impacted by suicidal behaviors.” You may be or know someone struggling, but the most important thing to know is that you are not alone. Someone with depression, whether diagnosed or not, most likely is experiencing overwhelming feelings of loneliness. They may be physically alone or surrounded by many individuals daily and still feel a sense of grief. Regardless, depression is a severe mental illness and, if it goes undiagnosed/treated, the results for an individual suffering silently may be fatal. Those who experience mental illnesses secondhand should consider the importance of considering how difficult it can be for someone with mental illness to seek resources. On the surface, it may seem that these issues can be solved easily with medication, therapy, or even prayer, but in many severe cases, it is much less likely that mental illness can just be ‘cured.’
Although this issue is explicitly addressed during September, there are ways you can participate in spreading awareness and providing resources for those who may be struggling year-round. Of course there are many variations within differing mental illnesses, but some of the most impactful resources include therapy, medications, and even hotlines that provide instant help in times of serious grief.
Therapy
Therapy can look different for everyone, but for someone who has personally struggled with the effects of mental illness, I have found I have benefitted the most with talking one-on-one, in person, with a licensed professional. For others, therapy may be as simple as opening up and letting someone know you are hurting. There is a plethora of different approaches to professional therapy that include: Psychodynamic, Cognitive and Dialectic Behavioral, and Humanistic. If you would like to read more in-depth about each of these click here: https://www.healthline.com/health/types-of-therapy#humanistic.
Medication
For resources on medical help with mental illness such as depression, call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or contact your local psychiatrist for more information.
Hotlines and Other Informational Websites
Other resources include the following:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - call: 988
National Alliance on mental health - https://www.nami.org/
Depression fact sheet - https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/mental-health-conditions/depression
Mental health - https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/index.htm
National Hopeline network - https://nrd.gov/resource/detail/12594355/National+Hopeline+Network or call 1-800-442-4673
Important things to remember when helping someone with mental illness include but are not limited to:
Start a conversation; let your friend know you're there for them
Help them find support
Support them in continuing therapy
Take care of yourself
Learn about depression on your own
Offer to help with everyday tasks
Extend loose invitations
Be patient
REMIND THEM THEY ARE NOT ALONE
ALGEE: The Action Plan for Mental Health First Aid
Assess for risk of suicide or harm (it’s ok to ask someone if they are considering harming themselves or others - research shows that bringing it up does not increase the risk of the person carrying it out)
Listen non-judgmentally (there is no need to assure them that they will be ok; just listen and express how sorry you are that they are struggling)
Give re-assurance and information (remind them you are here and that there are hotlines and people they can turn to)
Encourage appropriate professional help (offer resources that are available)
Encourage self-help and other support strategies (this can include a host of different things from breathing exercises to words of self-affirmation)
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, May 23). Depression Resources - Reproductive Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression/resources.htm
Depression hotline numbers - get help now - free & confidential. The Recovery Village Drug and Alcohol Rehab. (2022, September 8). Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/depression/depression-hotlines/
Mental health first aid USA. Mental Health First Aid. (2022, June 1). Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/
NT;, D. T. G. R. W. S. F. (n.d.). Does asking about suicide and related behaviours induce suicidal ideation? what is the evidence? Psychological medicine. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24998511/
Raypole, C. (2019, March 1). Types of therapy: Different types of approaches and how they work. Healthline. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/types-of-therapy
Raypole, C. (2021, November 3). Helping someone with depression. Healthline. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-help-a-depressed-friend
Samhsa's national helpline: Samhsa - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. SAMHSA. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
Suicide prevention awareness month (SPAM). NAMI. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Suicide-Prevention-Awareness-Month-(SPAM)
World Health Organization. (n.d.). World Suicide Prevention Day 2022. World Health Organization. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-suicide-prevention-day/2022
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