All individuals contemplating suicide believe their feelings are permanent and their problems are insurmountable. That is precisely the starting point for discussing suicide—whether with an adolescent or an adult, we must find a way to show them that their overwhelming negative feelings do not mean the situation will remain like that forever.
Furthermore, it's crucial to let the suicidal person know that they are not weak. With adequate support and gradual problem-solving, suicidal thoughts and ideas can indeed be eliminated. Here's what else we need to know and how to approach the conversation about suicide.
A person with suicidal thoughts and ideas believes they are no longer needed by anyone and feels that life is not worth living. That is precisely one of the goals we must achieve when talking to a suicidal person—provide enough support for their emotions to change and make them realize there's something worth living for.
Most suicides happen impulsively, meaning if the person received support and delayed their idea, they would remain alive.
Additionally, it's important for the suicidal person to understand that their absence from this life would create significant negative changes for the people around them. This is a somewhat delicate perspective because the person may feel suicidal out of revenge, wanting to harm their environment, while others with suicidal thoughts may feel additional guilt.
Therefore, this approach must be very careful, focusing on the fact that the person is capable of experiencing beautiful things in life and feeling pleasant emotions, not just unpleasant ones.
The first thing to focus on when talking to a suicidal person is to delay their urge to end their life. This urge should be postponed for as long as necessary to rebuild their support system and abandon suicidal ideas.
Some other useful guidelines would involve creating a safe environment— the home of the suicidal person should be safe, and free of objects that could cause harm.
It's also important to note that drugs and alcohol can intensify suicidal thoughts.
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