Picture this. Things are getting hectic at work or in your studies. You missed a couple of deadlines and know you cannot show up at your workplace because you have failed to complete your work again. Your social life is terrible, you are left out whenever people you call 'friends' hang out together. All the people around you do not understand what you are going through. Your relationship is strained because you can't spend time with your lover and are stressed because of all the work you have to do. At the same time, your parents have expectations of you, and you know deep down that you will never be able to live up to them. You spend the day lying on the bed, and for a moment, a thought crosses your mind.
"I wish I was never alive."
Understanding Suicidal Thoughts
Thoughts like "I wish I weren't alive," "No one cares if I am dead or alive," or even "I wish I could go to sleep and never wake up again" count as suicidal thoughts. A person having suicidal thoughts may or may not be in the stage of "suicide ideation," where one actively plans to end one's life. However, a person with suicidal thoughts may not necessarily intend to end their life.
How common are these thoughts among the masses? Well, they are more common than you think. A study by NIMH, USA shows that 4.9% of adults aged 18 and older in the United States had serious thoughts about suicide in 2020. As per the figure below, we can see that 'suicidal thoughts' are significantly higher in the 18–25 age group.
Seeking Help
Suicidal thoughts usually stem from a sense of helplessness or hopelessness. Sharing your feelings with someone might make you feel supported and offer you hope. Sharing your feelings with another person relieves much of the stress of going through it alone.
It takes courage to admit that you are having suicidal thoughts, and it is even more challenging to tell someone about them. But expressing your emotions is necessary because doing so is the first step in getting support. Maybe you have tried sharing your thoughts and people do not understand what you exactly feel like. Maybe they do not take you seriously when you seek out. What can you do then?
One might feel lonely and hesitate to express their feelings to their friends or coworkers, maybe due to a lack of trust or estrangement. In such a case, you can feel free to contact the institute counsellors. Our institute offers the services of both counsellors and visiting psychiatrists. Counsellors specialize primarily in psychotherapy, while psychiatrists are registered medical doctors specializing in helping clients cope with their mental health concerns by prescribing medication.
Breaking the Stigma
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 50 to 75% of people who attempt suicide talk about their suicidal thoughts, feelings, and plans before the act. A common myth associated with suicide is that talking about suicide will plant the idea of suicide in the person's mind. This is completely untrue. A person who is suicidal has probably had thoughts of ending their own life often in their mind.
The stigma associated with suicide may result from a failure to understand how complex suicide is. This stigma can be of two types:
- Public or personal stigma: When society applies negative stereotypes or gives labels to the person who ended their life, such as "they were selfish" or "they took the easy way out."
- Self-stigma: When a person has negative attitudes or beliefs about their situation. They hesitate to reach out, fearing the labels that society applies to people who think of suicide.
How You Can Help
- Be aware of the warning signs: It's not always possible to know when someone needs help, but there are suicide warning signs that you can look out for.
- Be empathetic: Sharing one's thoughts requires a lot of courage. Validate their thoughts and comfort them.
- Examine your thought processes: Could you be more sensitive to the stigma associated with suicide? Enable people to believe their own experiences and not rely on stereotypes.
- Refer people needing help: Direct them to a counsellor or psychiatrist. If the person needs immediate help, do not leave them alone.
- Raise awareness: Talk openly about suicide and work to raise awareness about mental health in our communities.
"The times are testing us to our full potential, but we must be strong. It might be stormy now but it can't rain forever."