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CW: Suicide
1/ I'm sad but not surprised that rates of #suicide are so high.
Personally, I've lived with thoughts of suicide for over 30 years. For some of those years I made suicide attempts.
From my perspective, governments & society are doing all the wrong things...
1/ I'm sad but not surprised that rates of #suicide are so high.
Personally, I've lived with thoughts of suicide for over 30 years. For some of those years I made suicide attempts.
From my perspective, governments & society are doing all the wrong things...
2/ #Suicide was a real & present option for me for such a long time, during years when my emotional pain felt absolutely unbearable and I'd lost hope.
Having lived so long with this inner debate about whether I should live or die, I think it's just become part of my landscape.
Having lived so long with this inner debate about whether I should live or die, I think it's just become part of my landscape.
3/ I know that I'm not alone in living with thoughts of #suicide.
And, sometimes, those thoughts get bigger, stronger, more compelling.
It might be when I am tired, or hurt, or my hope is running low, or I've been exposed to aspects of past traumas.
And, sometimes, those thoughts get bigger, stronger, more compelling.
It might be when I am tired, or hurt, or my hope is running low, or I've been exposed to aspects of past traumas.
4/ For me, when #suicide becomes more than a passing thought, I know that I need to:
1. Reduce or get away from whatever is hurting.
2. Build my hope up again.
The only way to do that that works for me is in connection with another human being who is accepting & safe.
1. Reduce or get away from whatever is hurting.
2. Build my hope up again.
The only way to do that that works for me is in connection with another human being who is accepting & safe.
5/ And for me, that's the great big bloody barrier to real #suicide prevention.
Where can people in suicidal crisis actually find connection? Acceptance? Safety?
I know that if I tell the wrong person I am thinking about suicide, then really unsafe things may happen to me.
Where can people in suicidal crisis actually find connection? Acceptance? Safety?
I know that if I tell the wrong person I am thinking about suicide, then really unsafe things may happen to me.
6/ If I ring a helpline and mention #suicide, there's a chance they will call the police or a hospital on me. I may be locked up again, medicated or given shock treatment against my will.
And these are the horrors of my nightmares, the things that would push me closer to death.
And these are the horrors of my nightmares, the things that would push me closer to death.
7/ If I were to talk on social media about thoughts of #suicide, there's a good chance I would be reported. And all the unsafe things would still happen.
I've seen this happen to many other survivors.
But this means we leave people isolated in despair, with nowhere safe to go.
I've seen this happen to many other survivors.
But this means we leave people isolated in despair, with nowhere safe to go.
8/ Thankfully, I am lucky.
I have amazing mates who are also survivors of psychiatry. I can call them, say pretty much anything, and be safe. They would never let me end up in hospital. They get it.
But I can't stop thinking about all those people who aren't as lucky as me.
I have amazing mates who are also survivors of psychiatry. I can call them, say pretty much anything, and be safe. They would never let me end up in hospital. They get it.
But I can't stop thinking about all those people who aren't as lucky as me.
9/ If we want to reduce #suicide, surely we have to stop turning to psychiatry - and own this as communities?
Why can't we make space for pain?
Why can't we have safe spaces to talk about suicide?
Imagine if we stop reporting people who are in despair - and connected instead?
Why can't we make space for pain?
Why can't we have safe spaces to talk about suicide?
Imagine if we stop reporting people who are in despair - and connected instead?
