Let’s talk about suicide

The following article deals with issues of, and surrounding, suicide and suicidal ideation. This content could be distressing or burdensome, and we advise you to consider you current situation and state before continuing to read. If you continue, please seek help or contact a trusted person should you begin to feel any excessive distress.

To take your own life.

To do away with one’s self.

To die by your own hand.

To top yourself.

Not here anymore.

To make the pain go away.

To end it all.

These are all phrases we use to carefully navigate around suicide without looking it square in the eye.

It’s suicide prevention day today, and I want to take a moment to talk about a part of suicide prevention that goes overlooked.

Talking to others directly about suicide without euphemism or skirting the issue can be very helpful when talking about mental health.

“Have you been thinking about suicide?”

If you have a mate who is “in a bad way” or “not feeling great”, ask them directly if they’re considering suicide. You won’t be putting ideas in anyone’s head, or making it seem like an option.

It’s far easier for someone to say “actually, I have been thinking about that”, than it is to muster up the courage to admit it to someone.

Speaking directly about it allows both of you to figure out exactly what’s going on.

For you, it means that you don’t need to guess how bad things are, and it makes it easier to figure out what you can do to help. “In a bad way” can mean a whole range of things depending on who you’re talking to, and how long they’ve been feeling like this.

For them, actually saying the words are often exactly the jolt they need to realise that it’s time to get other people involved, or that it’s not an outcome that they want. If the answer is “no”, that might remind them how far they’ve come, or remind them that what’s going on for them has some clear paths ahead.

Suicide can be a shadowy beast that lurks in places people don’t want to speak about. Shedding light on it can make it far easier to deal with. It reduces the shame and stigma, and helps get people the help that they need to survive.

Who knows, it might just save a life, and that’s worth a moment or two of discomfort.

If you or someone you know needs help, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the 24-hour Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467. In an emergency, call triple-0.