Hear Any Suicidal Ideation
According to Joan Brown, “Between 5-7 months after a significant death, many grievers experience some suicidal thoughts.” Classic symptoms of suiciders include:
- hopelessness
- acute and chronic depression
- despair
- loneliness
- isolation
Suicidal ideation often sounds like:
- “I just can’t go on anymore.”
- “I’d be better off dead.”
- “I want to be with my loved one.”
- “I can’t stand this pain any longer.”
- “My life is over now.”
- “I don’t have anything to live for.”
If you hear any of the above phrases, the griever may be experiencing:
- Irrational thinking
- Hopelessness and feeling forever lost in their grief
- Inability to see how they will ever feel better
- Wishes of a reunion with their loved one
- Thoughts of suicide, as seemingly the only way end their pain
Ask questions
- “Could you be thinking of harming yourself?”
- “Do you have a plan?”
Caution: DO NOT allow yourself to be sworn to secrecy
Caution: DO NOT argue the “Suicide Is A Sin” debate. Suicide is an emotional decision, not a logical one. Attempting to manipulate the griever from engaging in suicide with a moral debate will not prevent them from acting out their suicidal ideation.
Take Action
- Call a local suicide hotline to get further support, if the griever sounds suicidal
- Inform the griever’s family and friends.
- Make a verbal contract with the griever to call you or a suicide hotline, if they feel suicidal
- ALWAYS take any mention of suicide seriously. Short-term medical intervention maybe necessary and life saving.