As someone who has worked at crisis lines for the past few years, I’ve learned that in the midst of a suicidal crisis most people need support and to have their stories heard. But as far as long-term solutions? They really need housing, healthcare and safety from abuse.

The root of almost every single person I talk to who is in crisis’ problems is connected to their lack of resources... to the way the capitalist state creates and maintains a class of people constantly fighting for basic needs to survive.

We will never be able to heal people, to help them to be happy to stay alive, until we give them what they need to thrive first. To try to tackle such high suicide rates and high rates of mental illness, we have to eradicate the source. We need socialism.