Suicide Prevention; Dealing with Someone Who is Critically Depressed

3 minute read

Life is a journey.

Sometimes it's rough.

Sometimes it's hard.

Sometimes it's full of uncertainty,

FULL OF UNCERTAINTY

This is why we need to

Keep check on one another,

Share the roses,

Spread the sunshine,

This post deals with the idea of critical depression and suicide prevention.

***I am NOT a health care professional.***  

I am a teacher, a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, friend, NOT a health care professional.  I am NOT a therapist, or a counselor by training. Not. Not. Not!

I share these thoughts as a friend, and to honor our friend Sam (name changed) >link here to first mention of Sam<

Sam was a family friend, who took his own life.

He was Christian.

He was a good decent man.

He came from a lovely family.

He did his best.

I never knew him to be mean or ugly to anyone.

He had a rough time of it.

Living became too painful for him.

His family talked about the "last days" were better.  He seemed in better spirits.

I have been told this is not uncommon when people "make up their minds..."

His family was heart broken, and now they live with this excruciating memory, of how Sam violently checked out.

I truly am hopeful that my Jesus met him, and healed him in Heaven, but here I address dealing with someone who is critically depressed, and preventing suicide.

As a teacher, early in this school year, we had some mental health professionals come to our school to talk to us (teach us) about mental health first aid, I think they called it.

Much discussion was about dealing with someone who is critically depressed, and suicide prevention.

This is what struck me most:

We were told

ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS!!!  Don't be afraid to ask the hard questions.

We discussed that this seems counter intuitive, but best research supports, and advocates:

1)   ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS:

~  How are you feeling?

~  Are you depressed?

~  Have you thought about taking your own life?

~  Do you have a plan?

~  What would you use?

~  Where is it (weapon, medication)?

2)  Never leave someone alone if he/she is struggling with critical depression.

3)  Get professional help.  Call emergency workers or hotline, or helpline!  Don't let the ill person talk you out of getting help.

4)  ALWAYS talk about HOPE.

Assure 

Reinterate

Discuss

Persistently

SPEAK about HOPE

HOPE HOPE HOPE

There is always HOPE

There is HELP available.

You will not have to hurt or suffer forever.

We can get HELP for you and there is HOPE.

A critically depressed person needs to hear this.

This is tough stuff,

Hard stuff, to talk about, deal with,

Don't try to do it alone,

GET HELP,

But you need to know that you are doing the right thing to dare to ask the hard questions, and discuss the tough stuff.

If I may, on the subject of HOPE:

Share,

List,

Innumerate,

Describe,

All the wonderful that may be hidden 

Just around the next curve in the road,

and 

Assure  HOPE is VERY REAL

The mental health care professionals that spoke to us assured us that with the proper "treatment plan" by a team of professionals, the RESPONSE RATE is VERY HIGH.

There is solid reason for HOPE.

In honor of Sam and all the dear precious souls who just got tired on the hard hard journey, I hope that you take this post, put it with your faith, and prayers, and never loose the Sonshine on your path.

Tammy @

Grandma Mary Martha