ADVICE FOR MANAGING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS

Suicide prevention week: 5th - 11th September.

OVER THE PAST DECADE WE HAVE LOST 1,330 STUDENT DEATHS BY SUICIDE

- National Office of Statistics (ONS)

SAMARITANS:

CALL THEM FOR FREE ON: 116 123

EMAIL -JO@SAMARITANS.ORG

Click below to find other ways that you can find help through Samaritans, this is a link to their Self help App which helps you find techniques to help you strengthen your emotional health.

SO, WHAT ARE HEALTHY COPING MECHANISMS FOR BATTLING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS?:

Talking to someone is a good way to open yourself up to more healthy strategies to keep your mind agile while battling suicidal thoughts.

Because when your head feels like it is constantly going 1000 Mph, with nothing but negative thoughts, this can create a deeper feeling of despondency.

DAILY AFFIRMATIONS/ STAYING HOPEFUL

A really important person said to me that ending your life will never bring you peace, because we will always have our unfulfilled potential hovering over our life like a dark cloud.

Through daily affirmations this can help us remember our purposes in life, positive reinforcements such as Angel numbers, seeking advice from your God/spiritual guider, or even talking to yourself until the positive thoughts resonate in your mind.

KEEP A JOURNAL: TAKE TIME TO CONGRATULATE YOURSELF

Talk to someone, even if It's yourself, when you feel like hurting yourself, remind yourself of how much you deserve a beautiful and happy life. Write your feelings down in a journal. Make your feelings into a song, poem, book, if you don't feel like writing, scream at a wall, listen to music. Remind and congratulate yourself how strong you are and how far you have come. Remind yourself that you deserve to stay alive.

EXERCISE

Find what you like and stick to it, it doesn't have to be anything crazy, stretching exercises help with stress and chronic pain which develops from high stress levels, find a sport that you like that helps your emotional state, for example martial arts like kick boxing or karate.

PUT YOURSELF AROUND PEOPLE WHO YOU KNOW MAKE YOU FEEL SAFE/ AT PEACE

I understand sometimes we feel the people who make us 'feel good' can also simultaneously be toxic, that's why it is important to determine whether someone has good intentions for you, If your environment is contributing to your feelings that lead up towards increased suicidal thoughts. CHANGE IT. Start from scratch if you have to. But stay away from people who affect your peace, no matter how much you think you need to be around them.

STAY AWAY FROM THE SOURCES OF YOUR PAIN

Abusers who continue to provoke you? Family who alienate you? An ex who treated you like you are worthless? Friends who undermined you/ verbally abused you?

If the source (s) of your pain still remain in your life, you will not be able to heal unless you really believe they have changed and forgive them, otherwise you need to cut them off. its essential.

UNHEALTHY WAYS OF AVOIDING THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE.

Here are some unhealthy ways (only when over consumed) I have discovered that people use to avoid suicidal thoughts:

- Keeping busy by slaving away at their work, which sometimes just increases stress levels

- Over sleeping or frequent naps

- Alcohol/ Drug abuse

- Increased sexual activity

- Depending on toxic relationships to bring happiness

If you feel like you use these amongst other unhealthy coping mechanisms to shut out thoughts of suicide, I promise you, it is all temporary pleasure and we need to work on increasing your ability to achieve prolonged happiness.