Suicide Prevention

Suicidal behavior is a complex phenomenon. It can be caused by a combination of factors, including mental illness, substance abuse, traumatic experiences, and stressful life events.

Suicidality can develop when someone has long struggled with their mental health and feels hopeless about their situation. It is not a single event, but a process that develops over time.

Suicidality can be described as a continuum of thoughts, feelings, and actions ranging from suicidal ideation to suicide attempts and completed suicide. Suicide risk increases with increasing severity of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and with more frequent or intense episodes of these thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Suicidal behavior usually develops in three phases: 1) pre-suicidal phase, 2) acute suicidal phase, and 3) post-suicidal phase.

You may feel like you have no control over your life or that the world is against you. If you feel this way, you should take action right away!

People affected by suicidality face several challenges.

They can feel isolated and alone, which can make it difficult to find help. They often feel like they are trapped in a dark place that they cannot escape, and may not know how to get out of it.

They may be struggling with symptoms of mental illness such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD that make it hard for them to think clearly. And they may feel hopeless about their situation - like nothing will ever get better and there's no point in trying anymore.

But we believe there is help! You don't have to live with suicidal thoughts forever - there are many ways to feel better and find your way back into the light.

There are treatment options for suicidal people, and they can help them live a better life.

Many people who suffer from suicidality can find relief through therapy. Therapy can help you learn coping strategies and reduce your risk of self-harm.

Remember, your treatment plan should be tailored specifically to you and your needs. So don't be afraid to ask questions about what is best for you!

Many people feel unsafe dealing with suicidal people. They are afraid of saying the wrong thing.

This insecurity also comes from the many myths that persist about suicidality. For example, even today, many still believe that "if you talk about suicide, you won't do it anyway" - but the opposite is true! Eight out of ten people who have died by suicide have drawn attention to their inner mental distress beforehand.

It is also still the case that some people believe that by approaching someone about suicidal intentions, they can first "give the person the idea." This is also fundamentally wrong. Offering an open and trusting conversation is the most important first step in dealing with people in suicidal crises. The person affected must realize: Someone takes me seriously and is interested in my condition.

At the same time, however, it is also important for outsiders to be aware of their own limits, not to promise anything they cannot keep and, if necessary, to seek professional help themselves. After all, supporting a person in such an existentially threatening situation can be very stressful and exhausting.

In acute psychological emergencies, especially if there is an immediate danger to yourself or others, you should not hesitate to call the emergency medical services (112) or the police (110) immediately, or call the telephone helpline Germany (+49 (0) 800 1110111).

It is important to remember that suicide is a complex issue. It is not something that can be caused by one thing or fixed by another. If you're concerned about someone's mental health, it's your job to talk to them about it and make sure they get the help they need.

But it can be difficult to have the conversation, especially if you've never dealt with suicidality before. Here are some tips:

• Don't tell the person how selfish it is that they are thinking about suicide and how much better off everyone would be if they weren't there.
• Don't tell the person that they will never get better because they have tried and failed so many times.
• Don't try to force them into treatment without giving them a chance first.
• Don't minimize the situation with sayings like "don't worry, everything will be fine." This is a very serious matter and must be carefully considered.
• Don't tell someone to just "get over" their feelings or "be strong." This kind of language can make someone feel he*s flawed or wrong for feeling the way he*s feeling.
• For example, never tell the person that they are selfish because they want to die. Suicide is never about selfishness, it is about pain and suffering that cannot be adequately managed in any other way. It is important to keep this in mind.
• Avoid blaming. Making someone feel guilty for doing something they don't want to do is a manipulative tactic that can make the situation much worse. If anything, guilt can make people feel even more hopeless about their situation and more likely to attempt suicide.
• Avoid threats or ultimatums if the person* refuses help. Threatening someone to get them to seek help may appear to work, but puts them in an even more dangerous position where they feel alone and have no control over their lives.
• Avoid scare tactics or judgmental words when talking about suicidality. This doesn't mean you can't talk about suicide at all - just be careful how you approach the topic so the person knows you are there for them no matter what happens next!

First of all, a family member should not try to convince their loved one that they have no reason to be depressed or suicidal. This is wrong because it assumes that the person suffering from depression or mental illness does not know what they are feeling - they do! They are experiencing these feelings because something is wrong in their life or in their brain chemistry.

Instead of trying to convince them otherwise, ask questions like, "Why do you think this would help?" Or, "What do you think would happen if you did this?"