Saturday, March 23, 2024

How To Help Someone With Severe Depression And Suicidal Thoughts

Treatment Options Might Include:

Suicide, depression and self harm: How to curb the youth mental health crisis
  • Cognitive Therapy teaches more positive thinking, coping skills and problem-solving
  • Interpersonal Therapy might teach children how to make friends
  • Group Therapy with others of similar age that have a depressive illness
  • Family Therapy works with the entire family and discusses various family dynamics
  • Various supports at school. Talk with a school nurse about the options available.
  • Various forms of play therapy, relaxation therapy, biofeedback, visualization.
  • Antidepressant medications, stimulants, also some types of alternative medicine.
  • Hospitalization .
  • How Do You Know If Your Friend Is Going Through A Tough Time

    Sometimes its hard to know the difference between the regular ups and downs of life, and mental health concerns like depression and anxiety. Someone experiencing mental health concerns might feel ashamed, and worried about how their friends might react if they talk about it.

    Not everyone experiences depression or anxiety in the same way, and symptoms can vary however, there are changes in the way a person going through a tough time acts that you can look out for. If your friend is experiencing depression, they might:

    • seem down or tearful a lot of the time, or cranky more often
    • stay up really late or sleep in a lot, or have problems with sleep
    • miss a lot of school, work or their regular activities
    • miss hangouts or often cancel at the last minute
    • eat more or less than usual
    • drink alcohol or take drugs more than usual
    • talk about feeling empty, tired or worthless
    • seem more pessimistic and hopeless, and like they have less energy in general.

    If your friend is experiencing anxiety, they might:

    • be obsessed with details, such as being a perfectionist or wanting to plan things out thoroughly
    • have difficulty making decisions
    • avoid new people, situations or unfamiliar places
    • have trouble keeping to schedules or plans
    • seem disinterested, forgetful, distracted or scattered
    • have digestive issues
    • have a need to reassurance about how you feel, whether plans make sense, triple checking times
    • have difficulty sleeping

    Learn more about what anxiety is and how to recognise the symptoms.

    What Services Can Help Someone Who Is Feeling Suicidal

    Emergency services and Accident and Emergency

    If someone is in immediate danger of taking their own life call emergency services on 999. Ask for an ambulance. Or take them to A& E at their local hospital.

    Hospital staff will decide if they need to be admitted to hospital or not.

    Give A& E staff as much information about the situation.

    Contact the local NHS urgent mental health helpline

    The NHS urgent mental health helplines are for people of all ages. You can call for:

    • 24-hour advice and support for you or someone you care for,
    • help to speak to a mental health professional, and
    • an assessment to help decide on the best course of care.

    Most areas will have one. In some areas this service is called the Single Point of Access team. You can find details of your local NHS urgent mental health helpline at: www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline. Or you can call NHS 111 to ask them for details.

    Crisis team or home treatment team

    Crisis teams are sometimes called home treatment teams. They are part of NHS mental health services. They give short term support for people having a mental health crisis.

    They are there to try and prevent people from needing to go to hospital. They should be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    Community Mental Health Team

    If a person is with their local NHS CMHT, they can might be able to help if the person is in crisis.

    GP

    NHS 111

    Recovery or crisis house

    Charities

    Read Also: Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder In Partial Remission

    Who Has Suicidal Thoughts

    Thoughts about suicide are quite common. As many as 17 in 100 people experience them. Most people who have thoughts about suicide will not actually kill themselves.

    Figures on suicide in the UK and Republic of Ireland, are published regularly by the Samaritans. In 2018 6,859 people were registered as having died from suicide. Evidence shows the following factors can increase the risk of suicide:

    • Being male. Three times as many men die from suicide as women in the UK.
    • Age. The highest risk is in people aged 40-44.
    • Having a mental health disorder. 9 in 10 people who die from suicide have a mental health problem of some kind. Illnesses which increase the risk are:
      • Depression.

    Mental Health Crisis Team

    Depression: Is brain inflammation tied to suicidal thoughts?

    All trust areas have a mental health crisis team with psychiatric nurses, social workers and support workers. They:

    • carry out mental health assessments
    • provide support and short-term help until another team is available or the help is no longer needed

    You can ask your GP or the GP out of hours service about the mental health crisis team for your area.

    Also Check: How To Tell People You Are Depressed

    Help Them To Find Support

    Your friend might not be aware of what professional support options are available, or they may be unsure of how to get support. Even if they know about support options, it can be daunting to see a health professional.

    You can offer support by encouraging your friend to speak to a health professional or an adult they trust. You could offer to join them for the conversation if they want, or even ask if theyd like you to book the appointment if its with a professional. A GP can organise a mental health care plan for them if needed. This means that your friend will get a referral to a psychologist or other professional. Theyll also get Medicare-subsidised sessions getting help doesnt have to mean they have to fork out hundreds of dollars.

    Not everyone is ready to see somebody face-to-face. You could recommend hotlines or online chat-based helplines. The ReachOut NextStep tool can also provide tailored support options so they can make their own plan. Here are some support services they could use, and some more information about getting professional support for depression and anxiety.

    If theyre not able to seek help on their own, ask for their permission to talk to an adult they trust on their behalf. If they refuse, and youre still really concerned, consider talking to an adult you trust, such as a teacher, parent or school counsellor.

    Talking To Someone With Depression

    Here are some tips to help you when speaking to someone with a mental illness. If youre unsure where to start, ruok.org.au provides some simple advice:

    • Be ready – are you in a good headspace, and do you have the time?
    • Be prepared – are you ready for a difficult conversation where you dont have the answers?
    • Pick your moment – have you chosen somewhere comfortable to talk, and an appropriate time?

    You can find more helpful tips at ruok.org.au and beyondblue.

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    Suicide Prevention Through Treatment For Depression

    Suicide awareness among those who need it the most is often lacking. Because the final result is unthinkable, people suffering from depressionand their loved onesconvince themselves it wont end like that for them. But far too often, it does.

    In emergency situations, suicide hotlines can provide an effective first line of defense against drastic and irreversible actions. In speaking to suicide prevention specialists whove been trained to provide expert guidance, men and women suffering from suicidal depression can work through the immediate crisis and get referrals for treatment services available in their area. People who call such hotlines have usually reached their breaking point, and the counselors they interact with understand this and are prepared to provide whatever assistance is needed.

    Suicidal depression is a serious disorder, but it is every bit as amenable to treatment as any other type of depression. According to the American Academy of Suicidology, the lifetime risk of suicide for people with untreated depression is 20 percent, but it plummets to just .141 percent for men and women who do seek professional help for their conditions.

    Bridges to Recovery offers comprehensive treatment for mental health disorders as well as process addictions and phase of life issues. Contact us to learn more about our renowned Los Angeles-based program and how we can help you or your loved one start on the path to healing.

    Is There A Link Between Self

    How to deal with suicidal thoughts? – Dr. Sulata Shenoy

    Self-harm means that someone harms themselves on purpose. Self-harm isnt a mental health condition, but it is often linked to mental distress.

    Someone who self-harms dont usually want to die. They may self-harm to deal with life, rather than a way of trying to end it.

    But self-harm can increase the risk of suicide. Someone may accidentally end their life. Someone who self-harms should be taken seriously and offered help.

    You can find more information about Self-harm by clicking here.

    Read Also: How To Explain To Someone What Depression Feels Like

    Make Your Environment Safe

    Making your space safe could involve removing items from your home that you may feel tempted to use to hurt yourself, such as pills or guns. If that isn’t feasible, remove yourself from the situation by going somewhere else for a while or asking a friend or family member to help you.

    If you could use help from a friend or family member, be direct and explain what you would like them to do. Don’t assume they’ll know what you want or need, because they may not.

    For example, you might say, “Hi, Bob. I’m calling because I’m feeling suicidal and I’m afraid that I might hurt myself. Would it be possible to stay with you for a while since there are guns in this house?”

    Tip : Offer Help And Support

    If a friend or family member is suicidal, the best way to help is by offering an empathetic, listening ear. Let your loved one know that theyre not alone and that you care. Dont take responsibility, however, for healing your loved one. You can offer support, but you cant make a suicidal person get better. They have to make a personal commitment to recovery.

    It takes a lot of courage to help someone who is suicidal. Witnessing a loved one dealing with thoughts about ending their own life can stir up many difficult emotions. As youre helping a suicidal person, dont forget to take care of yourself. Find someone that you trusta friend, family member, clergyman, or counselorto talk to about your feelings and get support of your own.

    Need to talk to someone?

    Get affordable online counseling from BetterHelp or visit HelpGuides directory for free helplines and crisis resources. HelpGuide is reader supported. We may receive a commission if you sign up for BetterHelp through the provided link. Learn more.

    Read Also: Deep Brain Stimulation Depression Cost

    Remind Yourself Of The Good Things In Your Life

    When you are feeling bad, it’s very easy to forget all the positive things that you still have in your life. They get pushed to the back of your mind. That’s why it’s helpful to remind yourself of these things from time to time.

    One way to do this is to keep a gratitude journal. At the end of each day, sit down and write about all of the things you are thankful for. It may not take away your thoughts or feelings entirely, but you may notice that it helps.

    Ways To Help A Friend With Depression Or Anxiety

    10 Ways You Can Help If You Think A Loved One Is Suicidal ...

    If you want to be there for someone whos dealing with depression or anxiety, youre already being a great friend. It can be hard to know exactly how to help someone with depression or anxiety, and what to say to someone who’s having a rough time. Remember that each person is different, and while these tips are a guide, when helping a friend with depression or anxiety, its important to talk with your friend about what they feel they need.

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    I’m Worried About Someone Else Who Is Having Suicidal Thoughts

    If you are concerned about a friend, partner or relative who is having suicidal thoughts, there is a lot you can do to help. People who are thinking of ending their lives usually feel very hopeless, so it is important to show them that somebody does care.

    The most important thing you can do is to listen to them, and allow them to express their feelings. This is often very helpful. You may be able to help them put their feelings in perspective. Sometimes, just having the opportunity to talk to someone can be helpful in itself. Ask questions about how they are feeling. Offer support and show that you care. Check in on them regularly to show that you mean this. Try to direct their thoughts and activities to things and people that they enjoy and love, and help distract them from their negative feelings.

    You can direct them to the sources of support and treatment in the section above. If you feel they may have an illness, mental or physical, encourage them to see their GP. Offer to go with them if this might help. Write out the Samaritans’ phone number for them and leave it somewhere they can easily find it if they need it.

    Preventing Suicides In The Community

    Suicide affects many people, young and old, in every country and culture of the world. Almost a million lives are lost every year to suicide, with at least 10 million other suicide attempts, and 5-10 million people affected by the suicide death of someone close to them. Suicide remains one of the most frequent causes of death around the world. The impact of suicide makes prevention an important public-health priority and has been identified as a priority by the World Health Organization , as well as national, state, and local agencies.

    Some things to prevent suicide are best done on an individual level, like watching for signs of suicidal thoughts and talking to those you know. However, some changes can be implemented on the community, state, and even national level:

    • Restrict access to means for suicide. If highly lethal items such as pesticides, poisons, and firearms are less available, many deaths can be prevented.
    • Improve access to health care, including mental-health treatment.
    • Educate people about mental illness, substance abuse, and suicide.
    • Work to reduce physical and sexual abuse. Advocate for reducing discrimination based on race, culture, gender, or sexual orientation. Provide support to vulnerable individuals.
    • Fight stigma against mental illness and those suffering its effects.
    • Support those bereaved by suicide.

    Also Check: Does Depression Always Have A Reason

    Dealing With Suicidal Thoughts

    In this series

    In some circumstances suicidal thoughts are common, such as illness or depression. Most people who experience them do not kill themselves. Thoughts about suicide are frightening and can make you feel unwell.

    In this article

    Many people who have suicidal thoughts experience them when they are not in their usual frame of mind. This can be due to an illness, such as depression, or because of stressful events going on in their lives. Therefore these feelings are often temporary, or treatable.

    There are lots of ways to obtain help in order to make the suicidal feelings go away and to prevent a tragedy. If you need help now, you can:

    Phone 116 123 – available 24 hours a day.

    How Can I Get Support For Me

    How do you support your child who’s struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts?

    If you know someone who talks about or has tried suicide, you might feel upset, frustrated, confused or scared. These are all normal responses.

    Supporting a person who is suicidal can be stressful. And you are likely to need support yourself. You could try the following.

    • Talk to friends and family.
    • Talk to an emotional support helpline. There is a list of emotional support lines in the useful contacts section below.
    • Talk to your GP about medication or talking therapies for yourself.
    • Talk to their care team or their local council about a carers assessment.
    • Join a carers service. They are free and available in most areas.
    • Join a carers support group for emotional and practical support. Or set up your own.
    • Take some time to concentrate on yourself.

    What is a carers assessment?You have a right to have a carers assessment through the local authority if you need support as a carer. A carers assessment will work out what effect your caring role is having on your health. And what support you need. Such as practical support and emergency support.

    To get a carers assessment you need to contact the local authority of the person you support.

    Its common for people to not consider themselves to be a carer. If you give someone lots of support, such as emotional support, you are a carer.

    You can find more information about:

    Carers assessment by clicking here. Supporting someone with a mental illness by clicking here.

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    Do You Know Someone Who Might Need Help

    Many people dont realize that depression is treatable, and never reach out for support. And many people who die by suicide also have a mental or emotional disorder depression being the most common.1 Other issues related to suicide are relationship problems, substance misuse, physical health problems, and other life stressors and events.2

    If you think someone you know might be considering suicide, dont wait until its too late talk to them about it now. Asking if theyre having thoughts of suicide doesnt increase their risk for acting on them and it doesnt make you responsible for their actions if they do. All you can do is ask the tough questions, help them find support, and do your best to keep them safe. If youre not sure how to stop them from harming themselves, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifelineexternal or dial 911.

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