Change the Narrative - World Suicide Prevention Day
Aurore Schloesslen is one of Edinburgh College's Student Wellbeing Advisors. Aurore is on hand to provide advice to students about any issues that may be impacting their day-to-day lives, from exam stress to issues accessing funding, and can point you in the right direction for various services.
Aurore has penned the following article to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.
What are suicidal thoughts?
Suicidal feelings can include thoughts about ending your life, or feeling that others might be better off without you, but everyone’s experience is different. You might feel overwhelmed or unable to cope with what you’re going through, without necessarily thinking of suicide.
These thoughts can be triggered by a specific event, or you may not know what’s caused you to feel this way, while it could be a mixture of things. We’re all different. Your experience of suicidal feelings might be different to someone else’s.
What can I do if I’m having suicidal thoughts?
People with lived experience say talking about their feelings helped, whether it was with a friend, family member, or a staff member at college. You can always chat with the wellbeing team at Wellbeing Check-in | MyEC, or an external organisation like Samaritans at 116 123 or Breathing Space at 0800 83 85 87.
Finding ways to distract yourself can be helpful if you’re finding it overwhelming. Our lived experience panel shared many different examples of how they get their mind off things:
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Small acts of self-care, like drinking water, eating a snack, or simply sitting in a comfortable spot, can all help you steady yourself.
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Do something you usually enjoy like listening to music, reading a book, or playing games and doing puzzles.
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Try activities that involve using your hands, like crocheting, knitting, cross-stitching, or playing a musical instrument.
What can I do to help someone else?
Don’t be afraid to ask if they’re having these thoughts. It gives them permission to tell you how they really feel. If you’re worried about someone, stay with them and let them know you’re there. Give them a safe space to express how they feel. Try not to jump in with advice or opinions. If you think it’s an emergency or they’ve tried to harm themselves, call 999.
When you’re caring for someone else, you can find that you think a lot about their wellbeing and not about your own. Here are some tips to take care of yourself:
• Take time for yourself. You may feel that you should spend all your time and energy trying to support your friend or relative. And you may feel guilty about wanting time for yourself. But to be able to care for someone else, you need to take time for yourself too.
• Share the responsibility, if you can. If the person you’re supporting is comfortable with it, reach out to other people who might also be able to help.
• Be kind to yourself. It can be hard to accept that someone close to you feels suicidal, but it’s important not to blame yourself for what’s happening.
• Find support for yourself. It may help to talk about your feelings and worries or get support from people who’ve had similar experiences.
If you need urgent help don’t hesitate to contact:
Emergency services at 999
Samaritans at 116 123 anytime day or night
If you would like to talk about what you have read or anything else:
You can book a 1-1 check –in with a wellbeing adviser either online or on campus via this link Wellbeing Check-in | MyEC