Really Real Suicide Awareness Post

It’s another eighth of the month, another month since Parker died, and another month where I’m going to write my own Suicide Awareness post.

This month we’re going to talk about checking in on your friends.

Seriously, sometimes that’s all it takes.

If you think someone may not be in the greatest place, send them a quick message saying “Hey, I was thinking about you and I was wondering how you were doing?”

You don’t have to fix their problems, you don’t have to do a single thing except hear them and be there.  Hold space for them to vent their pain and their hurt and their fears if they have them.

If you’re able, ask “Are you safe?”

You can even ask “Are you thinking about suicide?”

If you aren’t able to ask that, that’s fine too, just be there.  Don’t wait for someone else to be.

You aren’t going to give someone the idea because you ask about suicide.  And if they are in that space, you may help them talk about it because they realize you aren’t someone who is going to be scared away by the word.

When people are in that dark space, it is often too dark to reach out for help.  Suicidal thoughts often prevent them from saying the words “I am suicidal.”  But if you break the ice, it could get the conversation started, and it could save a life.

It’s a difficult, but loving question to ask.

But, if you can’t go that far, if you don’t feel able to ask about their safety that’s okay too.  Just reach out in any other way.

Invite them out for coffee, take the time and put it on the calendar and give them something to look forward to.

Talk about their favorite show, or just ask them what shows they are watching.

Ask about their crafts or their pets or any other topic.

Listen.

Let them know you’re there and you’re still thinking about them, even if that conversation only lasts a few sentences and you do that once every few days for weeks and months and even years.

Check in on your friends.

It could save a life.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at

1-800-273-8255

or use the

Crisis Help Line

text HOME to 741-741