Blog Content: World Suicide Prevention Day
Experts by experience: Young advisor, Emily
Hi I’m Emily! As you know the 10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day. Many people every year struggle with suicidal thoughts, even if it’s not visible.
In my teenage years I really struggled with my mental health. I felt like I couldn’t get out of this downward spiral. I kept how bad my mental state was from my close friends and family, I eventually decided to talk to them about it after deciding I couldn’t cope anymore… and it was the best decision I ever made. Even though it felt incredibly difficult at the time and it felt like I was attention seeking, I believe that talking to others was the best thing I could have done! Mental health awareness is incredibly close to my heart so I would love to share some things that helped me through those dark times!
As I mentioned before talking to someone seriously does help!! It doesn’t have to be friends or family, it could be a professional or maybe even someone from a helpline. Having someone to talk to about your mental health is so so important even if it feels overwhelming and difficult. It’s always better to talk rather than bottling it up and pushing it down until it overwhelms you. I learnt the hard way that bottling up emotions doesn’t work and just makes things worse and harder to cope with.
I’m so so grateful for my best friend, she supported me through everything, she’s seen me on my best days and on my worst, she’s been there through it all and has never judged me for anything. In many ways she saved me. She’s listened to my troubles and has always brought me back to reality and helped me deal with it making me realise that I’m not alone in this. My family were also so supportive, even if they didn’t fully understand what I was going through or how to support me they have always tried their best to listen and understand and I’ll forever be thankful for them.
Another thing that helped me was having something to tether myself to! Such as a pet to care for on the daily, something that relies on me to be here. I’m lucky enough to have a horse and cat that both rely on me to take care of them. Whenever I have a bad day I try to focus on them and how they rely on me. Animals can be incredibly grounding and therapeutic!!
Another thing that helped me was joining clubs such as netball, equestrian and picking up hobbies! Keeping busy really helped my mind from wandering and going into a spiral.
For anyone out there struggling I would like to say that you’re not alone and that this spiral you are in isn’t forever. You are loved and your mental health doesn’t define you.