Suicide. That word caught your attention, I’m sure. The truth is suicide catches everyone’s attentions. The actions that lead up to it is what goes unnoticed. Look out for the warning signs and how to be supportive. Check up on people, you never know what someone is facing.
Signs someone may need support:
Suicide and self-harm are preventable mental health crises. We can be proactive by recognizing expressions of someone in distress.
A few types of warning signs are
- Someone expressing feelings of being trapped, like there is no way out.
- Someone expressing hopelessness or stating no reason for living.
- Someone withdrawing from family, their family, or usual activities they like.
- Someone talking or threatening to hurt or kill themselves.
There are only a couple of signatures, and there are different ways people exhibit pain.
How to be supportive:
When someone experiences a mental health challenge, here is how you can be supportive.
Listen: let someone really express their experiences. Being someone, they can talk to is essential when giving support.
Be non-judgmental: don’t criticize or minimize the way they feel. You may not be able to understand exactly what they’re going through, and that’s okay.
Ask what, not why: when you ask questions, avoid asking “why” questions, and instead ask “what” questions. Asking why a judgement tone can have even if you don’t mean it that way.
Give information-don’t diagnose don’t assume they have an illness or condition. Provide direction to resources that can identify and treat mental health issues.
Act as a bridge: you can connect someone to mental health resources. Resources include family, school guidance, mental health professionals, and organizations like HFTD.
Teammate in support: being supportive doesn’t mean your duty is to “fix” someone. Mental health is complicated, and solutions aren’t overnight. As a teammate, the best support you can give is by being a trusting ear, helping to navigate resources, and acting as a source of encouragement.
Cosmo Insurance Agency is a full-service independent insurance agency based in Hackensack (Bergen County) and Lakewood (Ocean County), New Jersey that offers an all-encompassing range of insurance options for both individuals and businesses. Cosmo keeps its promise to assure an efficient and creative approach to the services we offer. Each of our clients experience a personalized and long-term relationship with us. Our New Jersey based team of health brokers guides our clients in helping them choose the most cost-effective options. By incorporating our knowledge of the insurance guidelines for healthcare, employee benefits, life insurance, self-insurance, dental, disability, and long term care insurance, we keep our clients up-to-date with affordable plans that cover all their specific insurance needs.
