TW: Suicide and suicidal thoughts

Suicide.

A word that we always hear and think we understand, but in reality someone's relationship with suicide can be a lot more complex than what we would usually understand it to be.

First off, for further information on suicide itself and where to get help, please refer back to my post on the topic.

As some of us may know, suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 45. That's a higher statistic than heart attacks and cancer. If that statistic doesn't sink in then you best read it again...that man is your Dad, your husband, brother, son...you. Of course, suicide isn't solely something that only men are committed to doing, it can be anyone.

When we think of suicide, we think of someone committing the act that results in their death and when we say that someone has taken their own life or committed suicide, then that would be correct to say. There is another side to suicide that often goes unseen and consists of the thoughts and feelings in the lead up to someone deciding to end their life. Suicidal thoughts are exactly that; thinking about suicide. It may include the thoughts, preparation, and ideologies of it but more importantly it might not actually be something that the person will undertake. 

As some of you may know, I have struggled with suicidal thoughts and tendencies from around the age of fourteen, when I had my first suicide attempt. It was around that age that not only did I have the suicidal thoughts leading up to the attempt, but it is such that it is now a regular thought process in my brain for most days of my life, but it doesn't necessarily mean that I will undertake any of these thoughts. 

As much as I can explain the above, it's hugely important to realise there is a very thin line between simply having these thoughts and actually doing something about it. I often feel that people underplay this when they hear the notion of it spoken about. What you must remember is that the person whom you think will never do it and you could bet that as such, will be the ones that will. In fact, anyone with these thoughts needs to be taken seriously, listened to and given the opportunity to access professional medical support. 

Although there may be this difference between doing something and not, you never want to be in the position where you didn't take someone seriously and that was the last time you saw them. It's important that you talk to the person and understand what is going on inside their head and the risk that they are posing to themselves regardless of it being thoughts or actual acts or preparation. 

Don't be ashamed.

You could be saving another life by talking, but you could be saving yours.