CREATING HOPE THROUGH ACTION

Hello folks😊It’s been a minute but the need to fight and advocate for mental health remains. Happy new month and most importantly Suicide Prevention month. Yesterday we celebrated world suicide prevention day. It’s not late, you can still join in the struggle against suicide.

In today’s #MentalMonday we borrow the international theme on suicide prevention, “Creating hope through action.” In the plight of teaching that mental health is just as important as physical health, suicide is a catastrophic result of belittling and not validating one’s thoughts, feelings and emotions. Suicide is a public major health concern with far reaching social and emotional consequences. According to the World Health Organization, 700 000 people *die by suicide* every year and alarmingly, suicide is the 4th leading cause of death amongst people between the ages 15-24. The reasons for suicide stem from various aspects of our lives from as early as our childhood attachments gone wrong, traumas we encounter and carry through with us, the automatic negative thoughts towards ourselves, the inability to say no and set boundaries while remove toxic people in our lives. It is also how we have allowed society to teach us who we are and who we are not, the self worthlessness that we have been labeled with and fail to unlearn. The million dollar question would be, what do I do when plagued by suicidal ideation? Well there is no one size fits all but research shows that finding a hobby, avoiding isolation and trying new things that take us out of our comfort zones may be healing and are a way to get our hearts to be beat again. More so, it is important to counter negative thoughts with positive affirmations. A few examples include; words by Carl Bard “Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start and make a brand new ending.” More so Ralph Waldo Emerson states that; “When it is darkest, we can see the stars.” Hence, our problems don’t last forever and while we are in them, some good may be find in that situation.

So while today we disseminate information on suicide prevention we remind the next person that no one is immune to mental health challenges and our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody and anything outside ourselves will affect us. And when the going gets too hard, talk to someone, find a professional.

Needless to say, suicide prevention is a struggle that you and I can take part in everyday by serving a smile, in the few kind words directed at others and sharing love and lending an ear those who desire to vent. For anyone reading this and is having a hard time, just remember, in this life, in this night, your story, your emotions, it all matters. All of it matters and ultimately, you matter. Love, your Shrinkbae, Because#MentalHealthMatters❤️🧠.