In honor of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we want to help destigmatize the conversation, raise awareness, and provide practical ways to support the millions of individuals affected by depression and suicide.
Every year, over 700,000 die by suicide—and for each death, there are an additional 25 attempts. Whether you struggle with suicidality personally or know someone who does, suicide is something that affects us all. Unfortunately, suicide is often treated like a taboo or even off-limits topic. However, if you or someone you love struggles with suicidality, you understand the importance of creating safe spaces to talk about it.
This month, we teamed up with our friends at Style Blueprint to discuss how to open up an honest dialogue about suicide.
You can read the full article here.
If you or a loved one is struggling with suicide, we encourage you to reach out for help. You can find support at To Write Love On Her Arms or by calling 988. No matter what you’re facing, there is a way forward. Healing is possible. You matter.
Here is a sneak peek at what’s inside:
Breaking the Taboo
There’s nothing easy about bringing up the topic of suicide. For many of us, it’s uncharted territory. First, it’s okay not to have all of the answers or immediately know the “right” things to say. “I think we often carry the misconception that when someone brings this information to us, we need to have it all together and know exactly what to do with it and what to say,” says Mickenzie Vought, Editorial and Community Director for Onsite. “We put a lot of pressure on ourselves. It might actually benefit the person sharing to simply say, ‘Thank you for trusting me. That’s a lot. It matters. And I’m not exactly sure what to say, but I’m here.’ Our presence and honesty are important.”
One common and longstanding myth is that bringing up a conversation about suicide will lead to or encourage someone to follow through with it. In fact, the opposite is true. Normalizing the conversation can pull someone out of a dark place and offer hope. Addressing the subject and offering your support and compassion can break the stigma and help someone see things from a different angle. It can open the door to finding healthy coping skills. “The first step toward making something less taboo is simply creating the space to talk about it with the people around us,” says Onsite Clinical Supervisor Emilie Kadlec.
For more honest conversations about Suicide, check out this recent podcast episode featuring Onsite Clinical Supervisor, Emilie Kadlec.