10 Ways to Prevent a Loved One from Committing Suicide

10 Ways to Prevent a Loved One from Committing Suicide

It’s not a pleasant thing and most of us shy away from admitting it’s a serious issue, but when a loved one is depressed and threatens or hints at suicide, ignorance is the very opposite of bliss. We cannot ignore their feelings and pretend that things will help better with the passage of time; their minds are unsteady and their feelings volatile. They can lose it in a matter of seconds and it could be too late to save them; the regret and guilt you feel torment you for the rest of your life. If you feel even for a moment that a loved one could be suicidal, here’s what you could do:

1. Acknowledge that it is a serious problem – the first step to preventing a suicide is to accept that it is a real possibility.

2. Take your loved one to see a professional – a psychologist or psychiatrist could do them a world of good. A professional can identify the root of the problem and give them the right medication and treatment to cure and contain their condition. So you not only prevent them from committing suicide, you also help them regain their mental health and get out of the depression that’s been plaguing them.

3. Spend more time with them – most people who are depressed tend to think of suicide because they’re lonely and have no one to talk to and share their problems with.

4. Get to the root of their problem – it could be a relationship gone wrong or it could be financial woes that have reduced them to this level. Find out what’s wrong and see if you can help to solve it in any way.

5. Nurture them with foods that boost mental health – include nuts, fish, dairy products, soy and other foods that contain feel-good chemicals like dopamine that elevate your mood in their diet.

6. Get them to exercise – even a brisk walk in the fresh outdoor air will do them a world of good in the short and long term.

7. Remind them of all that is good in their life – a positive attitude goes a long way in removing negative thoughts and boosting mental health.

8. Remove objects and implements that could be used to cause harm from their reach – knives, ropes, scissors, drugs, chemicals and other products that could be used to attempt suicide are best kept away and under lock and key.

9. Watch them carefully – don’t leave them alone at any point of time. If you have other things to do, get someone else, someone who is responsible, to stay with them.

10. Keep on trying – it’s a slow process and you’re bound to get frustrated and angry, but you must keep on trying to help them and get them out of this phase. Get some help if necessary, but do all that needs to be done to get your loved out to stop feeling suicidal.

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This guest post is contributed by Maryanne Osberg, who writes on the topic of RN to MSN Online Programs . She can be reached at mary.anne579(AT)gmail(DOT)com.