Suicide: How To Ask For Help

Asking for help when discussing suicide can be seen as a sign of weakness by those who have not experienced the same feelings you have. This is certainly not a sign of weakness. In fact, it’s courageous.

Your bravery shines through in times where you feel there might be no hope, and it’s important to remember that there are many people out there who want to help you.

Each of us is comfortable confiding in various sources when we talk about our feelings. Some might feel safer talking to a parent while others would rather be anonymous.

Here are some examples of the different resources that you can reach out to:

Friends & Family

If you would rather reach out to someone you have an established relationship with, we suggest talking to family or friends.

Of course, there are varying degrees of your journey; maybe your family or friends are aware of your feelings, and maybe not.

While speaking up might come as a shock to loved ones who are unaware, do not let this deter you from asking for help. These people want to help you out, and it’s important to let them in.

Medical Health Professionals

Doctors are capable of assessing your symptoms and listening to your concerns. With this information, they’re able to create a plan of action to begin a healing process, which might include a referral to a psychiatrist or a prescription for medication.

If you are referred to a psychiatrist, you can expect direct diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Additionally, a psychiatrist might recommend you continue to attend counselling sessions in order to support your recovery.

Certified counsellors and psychologists work with you to assess mental health problems. They, in turn, recommend and teach various skills that can help in the recovery process. Medications cannot be prescribed by counsellors and psychologists; rather, they work on encouraging and training your body to heal itself, allowing you to recognize symptoms and react to them accordingly.

Workshops & Networking

If you are comfortable with meeting new people, workshops and networking events might work well for you. These events, depending on their focus, have the ability to bring together people who have had similar experiences with mental illness. Alternatively, agencies, schools, and community centres in your area likely offer workshops and education sessions where you can also meet like-minded individuals.

Simply chatting with those who have shared experiences similar to yours can become extremely beneficial in the healing process. The human ability to relate and be empathetic allows us to confide in someone with a similar background as well as provide support.

Never Be Afraid

We can all agree that it can be tricky to know who you can and cannot confide in – but more often than not, people are open and willing to help you out. We encourage you to utilize your resources and to never be afraid to ask for help.

Remember, asking for help is courageous.