Surviving Suicide: Don't stop talking

Hey everyone,

The Surviving Suicide newsletter launched late last year to take you deeper into our suicide prevention coverage. We also wanted to bring you advice from experts on issues related to suicide, such as how to break the silence around mental illness and depression, how to approach your first time in a support group and how to cope with the holiday blues.

Those of us who worked on this project learned how misunderstood suicide survivors feel, how common thoughts of suicide are, and how for loved ones left behind, there may never be a "why." We also learned how important it is to talk. Experts told us that connections can save lives. We're so grateful for the connections we've made with you, for the important questions you've asked that we tried our best to answer.

This will be the last edition of the Surviving Suicide newsletter, but we hope you'll continue these conversations at Paste BN's I Survived It Facebook page.

As Kelly McBride, a leading expert on news coverage of suicide, wrote in Paste BN when our series published, "You cannot solve a public health problem by whispering." That goes for the media as much as the public. And it's why we wanted to take a moment to point out some of the recent journalism around this topic, which we hope you'll take the time to read:

And if you're a parent, some things to pay close attention to:

We hope you've made some connections of your own through this project, but remember they are not a substitute for mental health care. If you're struggling with suicidal thoughts, reach out to a therapist, particularly one who specializes in evidence-based suicide prevention techniques such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Suicide Prevention or CAMS (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality).

While some people are chronically suicidal, suicide researcher Thomas Joiner and other suicide experts say many people feel relief through targeted therapies such as these.

National Guardsman Cliff Bauman survived a suicide attempt after struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder. One of the ways he turned a corner was to commit to therapy. Shear Avory is transgender and has struggled with suicidal thoughts since childhood, and they said healing only began when they found the right therapist: a queer black woman of color who they could feel "vulnerable" with.

Deena Nyer Mendlowitz made a suicide attempt 20 years ago, and says she has used many different treatments, including electroconvulsive therapy, to combat her suicidal thoughts.

"A huge part [of coping] was dialectical behavior therapy," she said. "There is an idea in that called opposite action. ... Basically any time I think about destroying, I’ve made a commitment to create instead."

If you don't struggle with suicidal thoughts but know someone who does, remember that showing you care can save a life. Encourage that person to seek treatment. For every person who dies by suicide, 280 people think seriously about it but don’t act, according to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Take care of yourselves. Take care of one another. And remember, you're not alone.

Alia

If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time of day or night or chat online.

Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.

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