If you have read/watched the news recently or support mental health charities such as SANE you may have read that according to the Office of National Statistics, suicide rates have increased 'significantly' and it seems that of this increase there is more male suicides. Male mental health is sometimes overlooked, not because we as a nation do not want to help but our society makes it hard for the male gender to 'come out' about their mental health.
Loneliness, whether chronic or acute, can be wrapped up in the despair that leads to thoughts of suicide. Read this powerful post and keep your eyes and ears open for the tiny clues that might alert you to family or friends's hidden feelings. If this is you... talk to someone, please. If you feel that no-one you know cares enough to listen, talk to someone whose job it is to listen. You won't be a burden – exactly the opposite. They've trained for years to be able to help you and all of us who need help from time to time, so they are completely focused, ready and more than willing. Please... pick up the phone, send an email, or walk in. Don't fester on your own. Another perspective really helps to pull you at least part of the way out of your rut. And when you get a better all-round view, you may start to see some solutions. There will be some, but you need to be in a position to spot them. You can't see anything when you're in the depths where it's dark and cold. Let someone give you a hand to reach the light and the warmth...
Related articles
- Being Suicidal: What it feels like to want to kill yourself (blogs.scientificamerican.com)
- Depression and me (rel.ly)
- Attention Please! (suicidehb.wordpress.com)
- Suicide- Youngster's Permanent Solution to a Temporary Problem - Leo Joseph (literatureislife4ever.wordpress.com)
There’s nothing worse for people left behind, then dealing with some else’s suicide. I’ve been there. It’s something you never get over.
Thanks for your response, Barbara. I’m sorry you’ve experienced this – as you say, it never leaves you. The great sadness is almost always that there is a way through, but that the suicidal person just can’t believe it.