Suicide
I was reading today about Twitch's passing. He was the DJ of the Ellen Degeneres show and an awesome dancer.
I am writing this because when a public figure suicides it is a good opportunity to educate ourselves about mental health.
People who suicide, attempt to suicide or are considering suicide don't want to end with their life, they are not selfish and they are not cowards. They want to end with the immense emotional pain they feel. They are not wanting attention just to get attention. They are in INMENSE emotional pain and need that the people around them support them having difficult conversations.
When someone dies as a result of suicide it is very important to process the suicide in community. We don't want that their suicide passes as an acceptable way to die. A suicide sometimes is followed by more suicides.
When someone wants to suicide usually, they say it, they say goodbye in some way, sometimes they even have plans on how to suicide or have had attempts.
Saying the word suicide aloud, asking directly to the person if they are thinking about killing themselves does not encourage them to suicide. On the contrary, having those conversations is important to know the level of risk the person has and connect them with mental health resources.
Having those conversations can be scary but the person needs someone who can BE and feel with them.
I encourage you to check out the free trainings offered by the county about how to talk to someone with suicidal thoughts https://www.sdcoe.net/.../health-well.../suicide-prevention
In case of risk any person can call to the San Diego crisis and access line at (888) 724-7240. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-662-4357 or dial 988.
Any person can also call 911 and ask for the psychiatric emergency response team or the mobile crisis team.
Any person (insured or uninsured) can go to any ER and ask to be assessed.
I want to share also the website of a wonderful organization who supports families and friends of those who lost a loved one to suicide
This piece does not substitute psychotherapy services I offer in my practice. I am writing this to share information and resources.
Eunice Palacios Ramírez, LMFT
December, 2022