Do you think of suicide?
Unfortunately it is not uncommon for people suffering from depression to think about taking their own lives. The purpose of this section is to help you understand that these negative feelings are the result of an illness. You can get well again, so there's no reason to let these feelings destroy your life. There are many different people who are willing and able to help you. We strongly urge you to seek help.
- Do you see the negative side of everything?
- Does your life often seem meaningless or empty?
- Does everything sometimes seem hopeless?
Don't be afraid to ask for help!
If you're suffering from depression and thinking of suicide, you must seek professional help:
- Talk to your doctor
- Talk to your psychiatrist
- Contact Lifeline on 131114
- Ring your GP or the doctor on call
- Contact an acute psychiatric unit
Will it help?
If you think of suicide a lot, you may find it a relief to be briefly admitted to a psychiatric unit. Here you'll find people who will look after you, care for you and give you the right treatment.
Once your depression lifts, you may see everything differently. Your thoughts of suicide may disappear altogether and you'll be amazed that you could ever have thought such things.
If your thoughts turn to suicide only occasionally, we would advise you to talk to your doctor or psychiatrist about these thoughts.
Remember that there are many different people who are only too happy to help.
SUICIDAL THOUGHTS
A Personal Experience - Dr Simon Bridge
I am a general practitioner and have trained in Family Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy. For many years I worked in psychiatry and in private counseling. During this time I spoke to many people, who were struggling with suicidal thoughts. Some felt that they had good control over these thoughts as they had good reasons to keep living. For others, it was a real struggle as they were overwhelmed by the depression and saw suicide as a way out. For nearly all, admitting the presence of such thoughts was a matter of shame.
I then developed leukemia and finished up on high dose steroids. This unleashed my existing tendency for manic depression. I had several courses of electroconvulsive therapy at different times and plenty of my own experiences with suicidal thoughts. In particular I became aware that when the thoughts are most dangerous they try to trick you into thinking that the rest of the family would be better off without you.
These are particularly dangerous thoughts because they make it sound like suicide would be doing the family a favour, a noble act. This is never the case. Surviving family and friends never really get over the loss and spend years struggling to come to terms with the impact of your action.
I developed a pamphlet which gives the patient an idea of how the suicidal thoughts work and I wanted to share its message here. If you can understand suicidal thoughts, you can outsmart them. Putting the thoughts out there exposes them. It allows you to take a stand against them.
It suggests that you have a choice of whether you put yourself in a setting where they are more or less susceptible to the suicidal thoughts. Clearly, very few people commit suicide in company.
Remember, depression will pass – a point often hard to accept by someone in the grip of depression. You will get stronger with time, if only you will give it time.
Often, as a general practitioner, after one has established that the patient has suicidal thoughts but ruled out that they are not in the category where admission to hospital is warranted, you make the decision to treat the patient in the community i.e. at home. Frequently, medication has been started but there is often a ‘gap’ period before it takes effect. Therefore, the patient leaves the room with the doctor not having given any practical strategies to control the suicidal thoughts. The doctor is left hoping that nothing silly will happen.
I would like to share some key points from a pamphlet I developed called:
“Toughin’ it Out” Survival skills for Dealing with suicidal thoughts
- Suicidal thoughts come in waves – they peak and pass, usually lasting a few hours and often at night
- The thoughts try to discourage you from sharing them with others
- They isolate you
- They try and trick you into the idea that there is no future
- They try and trick you into the idea that others would be better off without you. This is never the case
What to do?
- People rarely commit suicide in company – if you are at risk, be with someone.
- If you are alone use the phone.
- Alcohol and illegal drugs feed the thoughts
- Remove anything in the house that could make suicide easy
Remember:
The depression will pass and you will wonder how the depression got such a grip on you.
Over time you will get your old strength back where it will be impossible for suicidal thoughts to make a comeback. But this takes time and so you need to hang around to get to this point in recovery. This is where the strategies and skills come in
Help is available, call a friend, a doctor, the emergency department or Lifeline 13 11 14
Your life is worthwhile
For further information about the pamphlet see www.kirinaran.com