Post by lea on Sept 11, 2006 15:02:09 GMT -5
I thought this was a good thing to try and draw attention to. Yesterday (10th September) was World Suicide Prevention Day. As suicide is a huge problem, particularly in the Western World and increasingly (tragically) among young people, I thought it would be cool to have some resources up in here, so if anyone is struggling with stuff in their life or has a friend or relative who might be, well, maybe this thread will be some help.
Some general advice...if I may:
The main thing when you're feeling down is to find someone you can talk to. TELL PEOPLE HOW YOU FEEL. There are always a lot of people in your life who care about you...but they are not mind readers and they often won't realise how bad you're feeling. Get support however you can. Don't give up until you get it. You're entitled to support and you CAN feel better. Nothing lasts forever, not even depression, and eventually things will look up. It may not seem that way, but it IS the case, I promise...
For anyone who's worried about a friend, relative etc that might be suicidal - the main thing you can do is just be there for them. Listen. Show them you care. Have a lot of patience. Don't be judgemental, or act shocked by what they are feeling. Just let them express it. Encourage them to seek professional help. If you can, support them while they do this. It may be helpful to remove harmful items from their environment, if this is possible. But (particularly if you are very young) don't seek to shoulder the responsibility for the situation all alone. It's not wrong to get help. It's not wrong to 'tell tales' if this could lead to saving someone's life. Do whatever it takes to make sure your loved one doesn't feel isolated, and that they have viable alternatives to suicide. Suicide truly never solves anything...it doesn't bring about a solution, for anyone. Only a life cut short unneccessarily, and more, harder questions that can never be answered for the survivors.
Resources
I particularly like this site: www.stopasuicide.org/index.aspx also this one
www.befrienders.org/
Here's the one TJ has the banner for. And apparently these guys are on Myspace now!
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Their Myspace page can be found here:
www.myspace.com/suicidepreventionlifeline
Some regional helplines and so forth:
United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland:
Samaritans UK & ROI
Helpline 1: +44 (0) 8457 90 90 90 (UK - local rate)
Helpline 2: +44 (0) 8457 90 91 92 (UK minicom)
Helpline 3: 1850 60 90 90 (ROI - local rate)
Helpline 4: 1850 60 90 91 (ROI minicom)
Website: www.samaritans.org
Email Helpline: jo@samaritans.org
24 Hour service
United States of America:
USA National Suicide Hotlines
Toll-Free / 24 hours / 7 days a week
1-800-SUICIDE
1-800-784-2433
National Hopeline Network
1-800-273-TALK
1-800-273-8255
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889)
From Dr. Robert H. Schuller's Crystal Cathedral
New Hope Telephone
Counseling Center
24 hours / 7 days
newhopeonline.org/
* (714) NEW-HOPE
(714) 639-4673
TeenLine Hotline Help Center
4:00pm - 10:00pm
Monday - Saturday
www.teenline.org/
* (714) NEW-TEEN
(714) 639-8336
* 1-888-747-TEEN
1-888-747-8336
From suicidehotlines.com/national.html
*hugs to everyone*
Some general advice...if I may:
The main thing when you're feeling down is to find someone you can talk to. TELL PEOPLE HOW YOU FEEL. There are always a lot of people in your life who care about you...but they are not mind readers and they often won't realise how bad you're feeling. Get support however you can. Don't give up until you get it. You're entitled to support and you CAN feel better. Nothing lasts forever, not even depression, and eventually things will look up. It may not seem that way, but it IS the case, I promise...
For anyone who's worried about a friend, relative etc that might be suicidal - the main thing you can do is just be there for them. Listen. Show them you care. Have a lot of patience. Don't be judgemental, or act shocked by what they are feeling. Just let them express it. Encourage them to seek professional help. If you can, support them while they do this. It may be helpful to remove harmful items from their environment, if this is possible. But (particularly if you are very young) don't seek to shoulder the responsibility for the situation all alone. It's not wrong to get help. It's not wrong to 'tell tales' if this could lead to saving someone's life. Do whatever it takes to make sure your loved one doesn't feel isolated, and that they have viable alternatives to suicide. Suicide truly never solves anything...it doesn't bring about a solution, for anyone. Only a life cut short unneccessarily, and more, harder questions that can never be answered for the survivors.
Resources
I particularly like this site: www.stopasuicide.org/index.aspx also this one
www.befrienders.org/
Here's the one TJ has the banner for. And apparently these guys are on Myspace now!
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Their Myspace page can be found here:
www.myspace.com/suicidepreventionlifeline
Some regional helplines and so forth:
United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland:
Samaritans UK & ROI
Helpline 1: +44 (0) 8457 90 90 90 (UK - local rate)
Helpline 2: +44 (0) 8457 90 91 92 (UK minicom)
Helpline 3: 1850 60 90 90 (ROI - local rate)
Helpline 4: 1850 60 90 91 (ROI minicom)
Website: www.samaritans.org
Email Helpline: jo@samaritans.org
24 Hour service
United States of America:
USA National Suicide Hotlines
Toll-Free / 24 hours / 7 days a week
1-800-SUICIDE
1-800-784-2433
National Hopeline Network
1-800-273-TALK
1-800-273-8255
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889)
From Dr. Robert H. Schuller's Crystal Cathedral
New Hope Telephone
Counseling Center
24 hours / 7 days
newhopeonline.org/
* (714) NEW-HOPE
(714) 639-4673
TeenLine Hotline Help Center
4:00pm - 10:00pm
Monday - Saturday
www.teenline.org/
* (714) NEW-TEEN
(714) 639-8336
* 1-888-747-TEEN
1-888-747-8336
From suicidehotlines.com/national.html
*hugs to everyone*