I’ve lost 3 men in my life to suicide, 1 very close and very recently. What resources can I engage with to help. Literally what can I do, outside of generic advice, what’s an action I can proactively take. Are suicide hotlines still a thing? Is being an operator on there possible and what qualifications are there.
I’ll have to be cautious about this advice, as I’m not a therapist, but: Ask for help with something. Any task they could be more qualified for, or that you need a second person, rely on them a bit. When they help you, thank them wholeheartedly, even with a gesture like a gift.
People like to feel that they’re needed and appreciated, that they have some worthiness in people’s eyes. But don’t fault yourself for lack of this action - it’s impossible for everyone to do this for everyone they know, and self-harmful minds do a lot to hide themselves.
Best of luck.
Hey, I work for a mental health call center, we take several lines and one of them is the 988 line. Many places will actually take volunteers, and they’ll give you the training you need. If you want help looking for volunteer opportunities in your area, feel free to DM me and I can help locate those with you.
If you want other suggestions of how to help, I have many!
Messaged.
It depends very strongly on the reasons.
But as someone who had severe struggles with this and still thinks about it from time to time (since live is fucking hard and some developments also absolutely not helping) I would also wish for something that might sound very hard.
Letting go.
Suicide hotlines are very much still a thing, and you typically don’t need any kind of license or degree. I think many are volunteers.
There are also likely outreach programs in your area, if you search for them, and they frequently need volunteers. Helping people to access services is one of the more effective ways to prevent deaths, especially for high-risk populations like: addiction, lgbt, homeless.
If you’re looking to make a (paying) career change for this, there are also entry level jobs in behavioral health at inpatient and outpatient centers.
There are still appropriate crisis hotlines all over the world.
My youngest was suicidal and my wife and I took a handful of suicide awareness and prevention classes. They were put on by the community and incredibly helpful.
Maybe start there?
I’m trying to find things like that near me.
This is going to sound dark but it saved a few lives.
Embrace the truth that depression is trying to tell you and you are now free to do anything.
Punch a shark, go skydiving, enjoy those moments that you denied yourself and nothing remains to be afraid of because they are all safer than suicide.
Let go of who you thought you were; that is not you now and you need to become the self that you need to be.
For me, it was the laws and unavailability of things I need to have in order to do this act, that stopped me from doing this till now.
I don’t know what you mean.
you don’t need to.
Thats a pretty concerning response especially considering the anonymity
Well, who are you to be concerned when even gods and goddesses forsake me?
