September: Suicide Awareness

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Introduction

Welcome to September! For a lot of you, this means back to school, which we here at BIRH know can be a stressful time. For those of you in the northern hemisphere, it means autumn… which means winter is coming… which is depressing whether you live here or in Westeros.

After our lighthearted break in August, we're going to buckle down and get serious again. Let's start with some dates:

Heart Sept 10: World Suicide Prevention Day
Heart Sept 8-14: National Suicide Prevention Week (USA)
Heart September: National Suicide Prevention Month (USA)

Accordingly, we're having our own Suicide Awareness Month here at BIRH. Instead of offering specific prompts, we're leaving this month's theme a bit more open-ended. We encourage you to submit writing and art relating to suicide in whatever way you're comfortable with - whether you feel ready to talk about your own struggles, you want to share your experience with a loved one who committed suicide, or you just want to express some thoughts on the topic.

Submissions

Remember that if you're not comfortable with having your name attached to your work, you can submit anonymously through BIRHindTheScenes. Note the account with your submission, provide a description if you want, and the BIRH team will post it completely anonymously for you.

Also, if you tag me (akrasiel) in your deviation or contact me with a link to your submission, you just might wind up in a group feature at the end of the month. :)

That's all from me! I'm going to pass the reins off now to the lovely and knowledgeable LiliWrites to give you more detailed info about suicide prevention.

Suicide Awareness and Prevention

"Suicide prevention" sounds kind of scary doesn't it? When people think about this topic, they tend to imagine saving people from jumping off bridges or overdosing on sleeping pills. But the reality of suicide prevention is often not so glamorous. It really comes down to being aware and available to those who may need someone to talk to, or even somewhere to go for their mental health issues.

Some statistics to think about (infographic courtesy of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:



This graphic provides quite a few insights into possible "causes" of suicide. In particular, the fact that 90% of suicides are committed by those with diagnosable psychiatric conditions is worrisome. It points to the underlying fact that most suicides would be preventable with proper psychiatric care.

But what does that mean to you, the average DeviantArt user? How does someone browsing the net help save one of the 111 people who commits suicide every day in the United States alone? 

Well, it starts with knowing the common signs of someone at risk for attempting suicide. A generic list includes:

Bullet; Black Reaching out to people the individual has no contacted in a long time
Bullet; Black Expression of extreme sadness and loss of motivation
Bullet; Black Change in mood, appearance, or demeanor -- this can be sudden or gradual
Bullet; Black Expression of thoughts of self-harm or suicide
Bullet; Black Expression of getting affairs in order

Often those who attempt suicide give off plenty of warning signs. Being mindful of what those signs may be is the first line of prevention and most certainly CAN save a life. But what do you do if you notice one of more of these signs from a friend or family member? How do you broach the taboo and uncomfortable subject?

My best advice came from my good friend Ashley, who trained me when I was learning to be a suicide hotline volunteer just after high school. She said that honesty, compassion, and empathy will work in almost every case. People considering suicide often do so because they feel trapped and alone. Even one person making sure that they feel noticed, cared for, and understood can make all the difference. 

If you have a friend who seems to be unhappy, withdrawn, moody, or just down in the dumps, take your concern to that person. Don't wait for your friend to come to you because they may not. Schedule a coffee date or movie night with your friend. Create a safe, private place to have a conversation. Then bring up the subject in a way that shows that you are trying to be a good friend and are concerned for their safety. Some key phrases I've picked up over the years are:

Bullet; Black "I am here for you, no matter what. Do you need to talk about anything?"
Bullet; Black "I've noticed you seem kind of down lately. Can you tell me what's going on?"
Bullet; Black "Are you okay? I love you and want you to be happy. How can I help?"

Make sure that if you manage to get a response from your friend that you are actively listening and paying attention to body language. People suffering mental health issues are often embarrassed by them and may not open up immediately. Creating a safe, comforting space for your friend and making sure he or she knows that you are only concerned with their safety and well-being is of utmost importance. 

Avoid statements that may be misconstrued as judgmental or unsympathetic. In particular, avoid trying to relate your own experience to your friend's. As much as sharing our stories connects us, it can make someone who is suffering a sadness so extreme they're considering suicide feel invalidated and misunderstood. There is absolutely nothing you have gone through that can realistically compare to what your friend is feeling because you are not the one considering suicide (I hope). And even if you have been in the position of considering suicide at one point, your experience was different and should not be compared. Our pains are as unique as our personalities, and they need to be respected. If your friend does open a dialogue, wait for him or her to ask if you've ever felt that way and how you got through it before volunteering the information. This will help your friend be more receptive to what you're saying because he or she is actually seeking the information. 

But what if you can't get your friend to talk to you? What if your attempts at starting a conversation result in your friend withdrawing further? At this point, I would recruit allies to the cause. Talk to your friends parents, siblings, significant others, and other friends. Find out if anyone else is noticing the behaviors you are and if they've had any success in getting your friend to open up. Talking about mental issues is very difficult for everyone involved, but it is the first step in getting through the pain and into the healing. Enlisting help from other people who you know care for and would be supportive of someone going through a mental illness is always a good idea. The more people expressing their concern and love, the less likely it is that your friend will attempt suicide. 

So, at the end of the day, suicide prevention looks like two friends crying on the couch spilling their guts to each other. It's not easy or pretty, and certainly not glamorous. But it is worth it.

Some resources for those who want to learn more or who need to get help:
Bullet; Black 1-800-273-8255 -- American National Suicide Prevention Life Line -- Call and Chat for those considering suicide
Bullet; Black American Foundation for Suicide Prevention -- Advocacy and Education
Bullet; Black Suicide Prevention Resource Center -- Localized Resources 
Bullet; Black To Write Love On Her Arms -- Suicide and Mental Illness Support

Remember. If you suspect that someone is in imminent danger of harming themselves or others, call your local authorities immediately. It's better to make the call and be wrong, than to hold off and be right.

Miscellaneous

PoetryOD has created an amazing resource called The Geek's Guide to Lit Groups. It's an index of every active lit group on dA with the attributes of each (contains poetry or prose, offers prompts, etc.) so deviants can find the exact groups to suit their needs. There's a whopping 568 groups listed, so go take a look and give PoetryOD your eternal gratitude for her incredibly hard work. :lol:
Comments10
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PoetryOD's avatar
This is an excellent journal so thank you for that and for mentioning the list. :love: