As we begin the month of September, also known as Worldwide Suicide Prevention Month, this is a good time to assess and take stock of the quality of our lives. It is easy to focus on events happening on the worldwide stage such as wars, famine, the economy or political discourse but, sometimes it is important to look inward and ask ourselves, “Within my individual life, am I ok?”
The art of prevention is simply to find stressors and either make them manageable or eliminate them before they begin. When we face stress or emotional chaos within our lives, our mental health can suffer negative consequences and lead to further health issues like depression.
Signs of depression or fatigue may look like these:
- Continued sadness
- Insomnia
- Heightened anxiety
- Chronic pain
- Irritability or increased anger
- Isolation or detachment
- Decline in meaningful activities
Understanding the reason for these signs is not always easy. Life is complex and not always clear, especially in the absence of hope. Problems may feel impossible, but that does not mean that hope cannot be reclaimed. Reclaiming hope happens by digging down into our emotional toolbox and finding the strength to hold on for one more day. It is about replenishing the soul with what makes us feel good about ourselves. It could be remembering that kind word someone said to us, or happy memories experienced with a friend or a loved one.
We may feel better when we lean on a faith or belief system. Ultimately, it is about rejuvenating that spark within ourselves to push through negative circumstances. Rejuvenation builds resilience and resilience is what keeps us thriving in the face of adversity and world chaos.
If life seems hard right now, reconnecting with people you care about might be a good place to start. If this is not an option, there is still help available. The national hotline to contact and find someone to talk with is 988. Your call is anonymous and people are trained to provide crisis support and help you work through your stressors. 988 is available by both telephone and text.
Regardless of your background, race, or gender, you matter. In the face of adversity, your mental health is important. You can be triumphant and hopeful in the emotional roller coaster called life. You deserve that.
By Tracy Oeser, MSPsy
UniteNews Contributing Writer
Tracy Oeser is the CEO of Postvention Collective, LLC in Springfield, MO. In addition to this educational platform for suicide bereavement, she also owns Journey Thru Grief, LLC which supports suicide loss survivors directly. Tracy holds a BA and MS in Psychology and serves as a member of various mental health organizations.
