By: Dr. Priya Kaul, Spiritual Life Coach (Hope Creator)
Life is full of ups and down and that is what makes it a journey. But in these ups and downs, there are cases where people lose track of life and that is when suicidal tendency and depression creeps in. This World Suicide Prevention Day, lets pledge to be the savior to our loved ones and save them from this dark side of life. According to mental health experts, there is much that friends and family members can do to help people who are depressed or contemplating suicide. If you know someone who is fighting with depression and suicidal thoughts, here are a few things that you need to take care to help them in the best possible way.
Try to understand these signs of suicide and depression, which can include: thinking about death or suicide, feelings of hopelessness, withdrawing from friends and family, extreme mood swings, saying goodbye to family and friends and more.
Look at suicide as a cry for help
When a person talks about suicide or depression, try and understand that the person seeks help and support. It’s an indicator that they are in great emotional pain, but don’t know how to deal with it. It’s the time you need to take the charge of being caring and affectionate towards them.
Be a good listener
We all go through tough times and when someone is stuck in a moment or situation, it is important to hear them. It might help them overcome it. It is suggested to be a good listener and hear it from people and offer them positive solutions. If speaking is important, listening is equally important to find an answer to questions.
Ask them to seek help
Even though some suicides may seem to come out of the blue, it’s quite likely that the person had been depressed for a very long time. If you see anyone known being sad and silent for a longer period, encourage them to seek help and look for a solution rather than struggling alone. Getting prompt professional assistance at the first signs of depression is a very important step in preventing suicide.
Don’t leave them alone
If you can see that they are in problem and seem to be in imminent danger of hurting themselves, do not leave them alone. Take steps to get them away from any means that they could use to hurt themselves, such as weapons or pills. In case of any emergency, seek expert’s assistance.
Encourage them to seek professional help
In many cases, the trauma is so intense that sharing and caring is not the solution. In such cases, it is advisable to seek professional help and for that one needs to be motivated and encouraged. There are many mental health organizations one can reach out to for detailed information.
Know that secrets can kill
If a depressed person shares the thought, be aware that you may have to share it with an expert in order to help them. So, be clear so that it does not affect your interpersonal bonding.
