Today is World Suicide Prevention Day and we want to use the opportunity to share the ways in which you can support people who are feeling suicidal, by sharing direct experience from somebody who has been in that position.
Emma wanted to share her journey to encourage open and honest discussions about mental health.
Emma has experienced depression and anxiety from early childhood and later in life been affected by addiction. Emma has attempted to take her life on three occasions.
But Emma later sought support from LSCFT’s Home Based Treatment Team and Acute Therapy Service, where she joined a six-day intensive support programme in the community – something she describes as revolutionary.
Emma said:
“In the past when I have felt suicidal, everything is just black. I describe it as the demons. The feeling would usually come in the morning and last all day, I’d start telling myself I was rubbish and I’d believe it and couldn’t see any way forward.”
But thanks to ATS and the support she’s received from family and professionals, Emma no longer sees the demons and has hopes and aspirations for her future. When she was feeling her lowest, it was her aunt who was there for her and who interrupted her suicidal feelings.
Emma continues:
“My aunt has been the biggest supporter and has taken me to the hospital twice. She’s worked in the NHS before, for Samaritans in Cyprus and has been awarded an MBE for grief counselling so she does have more of an understanding than most people.
“But her professional background aside, it was simply her being there for me and reading between the lines that saved me. I’m so lucky that I have people like my aunt, but it’s not the case for everyone and that’s why I want to share my story – we all need to look out for each other."
Emma’s aunt, Sally said:
“I've supported many people over my professional career, but being able to help my own niece felt even more significant. Most of us have the ability to sense when someone's behaving out of character, not quite themselves, sad or withdrawn. When that happens, don't be afraid to ask questions and show compassion. Just being there to listen will help more than you know."
For Emma, talking has been the biggest help, especially when she has been able to connect with professionals over lived experience.
She said:
“Therapy, combined with exercise and meditation has really helped me to take control of my feelings, as well as medication. Everyone is different and it can take time to find what works for you.
“If you don’t have someone to talk to, please go to your GP and be forceful. The hardest thing can be getting into the mental health system, but once I was in it was the best thing that happened to me."
In order to accept that she needed support and put her mental health first, Emma says she had to give up a lot.
“I’ve gone from Caribbean holidays and Chanel handbags to claiming Universal Credit and starting college for the first time in my life so I can pursue my dream of working in the NHS and supporting people like me. It took a lot of strength to give up everything and start over, but I wish I’d done it sooner. I want this message to reach people who are in their teens and early 20s now because getting help when I was that age would have transformed my life even more so.
“My advice to everyone would be if you think someone is struggling, be there. Ask if they want to talk and get them to tell you exactly how they are feeling. Knowing someone is there to listen without judgment is the most helpful thing to somebody in crisis.
“And to those people who feel like there’s no way out, focus on getting through the next hour and then the hour after that. Tomorrow might be brighter.”
The Samaritans has shared a list of ways in which to interrupt someone’s suicidal feelings: Ways to start a conversation | Samaritans
For urgent mental health support, dial 111 and select option 2 or call the Samaritans on 116 123.
