When you come to me for help, I want to help you.
I hope you will let me.
I cannot know your secrets without your words.
I hope you will tell me.
Tell me, please, your thoughts of suicide.
You might feel scared to tell me
When I ask if you are thinking of suicide.
I will try to help you feel safe.
I will not judge you.
I will not interrogate you.
I will not panic.
I will listen gently as you tell your story
In your own words, in your own way.
Suicide might tell you not to tell me.
Suicide might tell you I am your enemy.
Suicide lies.
Suicide might tell you that nobody could possibly help you,
That dying is the only way to end your pain.
Suicide might even tell you that you are a bad person
Defective, undeserving of life
Or love, or hope, or compassion.
Please, tell me.
I cannot help you fight the enemy
If you do not tell me about the enemy,
The enemy that is trying to kill you.
Do not trust your suicidal thoughts.
They are not rational.
They are a symptom, a sign, a cry from inside.
Something inside you needs healing.
Healing, not killing.
Tell me, please, what suicide tells you.
Does it tell you everything that is wrong with your life?
Everything that is wrong with you?
Suicide plays tricks with truth,
Telling only the truths that make you want to die
Hiding the truths that make you want to live.
The pieces of hope.
The pathways to healing.
The possible.
Tell me, please.
Or tell somebody else.
I am only one of many people who can help you.
But nobody can help you if you tell nobody.
Thank you.
One day you will thank you, too.
For telling.
For surviving.
***
© Copyright 2014 Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW, All Rights Reserved. Written for www.speakingofsuicide.com. Photos purchased from Fotolia.com.
Where is the website with a letter for people thinking about suicide? I need it. I can’t find it anymore and desperate. Talks me down relating to coping mechanisms. Help
Anonymous,
Do you mean this site? Many people find this letter very powerful:
https://www.metanoia.org/suicide/
hey everyone, i need someone to talk to….
Hi Angel,
Counseling isn’t provided on this site, but you can reach someone any time, any day by calling 988 or texting 741741. I’ve also listed on the Resources page other places where you can get help by phone, email, or chat. I hope you connect with someone soon!
Hi Angel. I’ll be happy to talk to you.
SITUATION is EXTREME! My neighbor BEN is a USMC veteran from Desert Shield ? & Storm WARS. He was COMBAT seven years ACTIVE; KILLED the ENEMIES, PAST NINE DAYS he desires to die. He suffered severe injuries to his LEFT ARM (USELESS) his LEFT LEG is functional yet he tends to drag it at times. He tried to hook up with women ONLINE; he’s so lonely, he’ll send to them MONEY via cards that can be redeemed on the end. He purchases them at Safeway. I tried my BEST to get him to call the VA Crisis Line. He WON’T GO to VA as I do. I told him I see ? a psychologist once a week for 50 MINUTES. He refuses HELP. He tells me he’s suicidal mainly because of the PAIN. I THINK one day I may awaken ONLY to discover he KILLED himself. He MENTIONED pinched nerves. He CLAIMS he’s in severe PAIN as he grimaces. I COULD risk calling authorities but he COULD simply deny it. I’m praying for him. I ? DON’T KNOW what else to DO. He’s 55 years OLD and he’ll ? be 56 this coming OCTOBER. I COULD tell him to call 1-800-273-8255 but knowing him for APPROX. FIVE MONTHS as a NEIGHBOR; highly BELIEVE he will say NO, he DOES it all the TIME but most suicidal PEOPLE TALK BUT IF WE SIMPLY IGNORE THESE cries or pleas FOR HELP… I THINK he’s contemplating DAILY. I CARE but as a FORMER MARINE from the Vietnam ERA… I can’t MAKE him get the help he earned or at least deserves for his TOTAL of 14 YEARS MILITARY SERVICE. Thank you for ALLOWING me to share the TRUTH HERE!
Yes I am thinking of killing myself☹️Again!
Suicide became an option when my second brother took his own life. Three brothers, two suicides. I believe I’ll be the third
Nope,
This makes me so sad. I’m sorry for your losses, and I hope you’ll get help. Please check out the resources listed at speakingofsuicide.com/resources/#immediatehelp.
Have you looked at meetup and other similar groups where you can find other people that have similar interests in life? Also I know many that have died and they did not take their own life but had given up on life as so many close to them that they had know for many decades had died.
When we loose those close to us we have a choice of hanging onto the past, or looking for a new future with other people we have not yet met in life. There are far more ways to meet new and interesting people in the world today, and also there are some people that you could help to enjoy life with. I only have one brother and don’t know if he is alive or dead as I have not seen him in more than 10 years. Actually I can’t remember when I last seen him, but if I remember right it was one of my birthdays long ago. When we don’t have family, we can always find new family long as we are here on earth.