Topic Tuesday// Suicide: You Can Talk About It// Tuesday 31st October 2023 5:30-7PM AEDT

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@lemlem678 wrote:
I recently went through a public mental health service. On the first appointment the psychiatrist said "being passively suicidal isnt so bad"

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Mine said: "Oh, everybody goes through that!"

Time for our next question! @Snowdragon For some people, thoughts of suicide can be constant or chronic. How could someone experiencing this, care for themselves?

For our community, feel free to reflect on @lemlem678 What do people do to cope with chronic suicidality? It is hard to "see" through the fog and darkness - feels impossible to function at all or to be able to plan for the future etc.

@chibam @Captain24 @Shaz51 @Snowie @puzzlingdino

You might be feeling so upset, angry and in pain that you believe these feelings will never end. But it's important to remember that they cannot and will not last. Like all feelings and thoughts, these ones will pass.

Helping myself right now:

There are steps you can take in the moment to stop yourself from acting on your suicidal thoughts. Everyone is different, so it's about finding what works best for you.

• Get safe right now
• Distract yourself
• Challenge your thoughts

Helping yourself long term:

• Make a safety plan
• Learn to manage difficult feelings (e.g., learn your triggers)
• Value yourself (e.g., take small steps to build your self-esteem)
• Connect with other people
• Look after your physical health

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@lemlem678 wrote:
Like I understand the public system is constantly in demand and i would say most if not all are in compassion fatigue, but if you can't appropriately respond to someone who is in distress then they should reconsider the work they do or take time off for themselves. They can't support people if they aren't supporting themselves. And when they are saying things like that they are causing more detriment to those trying to get help.

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True. But a big part of the problem is that they aren't even in the business of fixing peoples' lives, but the patients all too often don't realize this. Most patients, I believe, actually need what's called "psychosocial support" to fix their broken lives, but they mistakenly seek out therapists instead, believing that therapists do this sort of work. Consequently you end up with way too many cases of therapists and patients wasting each other's time, and getting increasingly frustrated by it.

If someone wants to do it they will find a way and I agree wouldn't it be better for them to take that option knowing they've fully thought about it rather than ending up in a worse state both physically and potentially mentally?

@TideisTurning I just have been trying to use my safety plan

My suicidal thoughts have been pretty constant. I have a safety plan but both attempts have been spur of the moment

decisions. So in the moment it I don’t really know what to do. By the time I make that decision it’s just too late

One other thing, from my perspective @lemlem678, might be to acknowledge there’s a reason you’re feeling so deep in struggle right now, something that’s happened to lead you here. Because in my experience, suicidality does not come from nowhere. But, to echo @Snowdragon, the experience is also not forever.

Those are some good points. What happens though when we are in burn out also and we don't have the capacity to actively do those types of things?

Due to not being able to do anything, i end up dissociating due to overwhelm. But when I come out of that state those feelings are still there and my ability to cope still isn't there.

I havent wanted to be alive since i was 14 (im now 35), but in the last year those feelings have been immense that I can't function. I've tried 4-5 different medications in the last year, been going to regular clin psych appointments and tried group therapy also. The public system services were more detrimental and made me worse.
We know for depression behavioural activation is the focus but burnout is to rest and do nothing. It is difficult and complex and so hard when you don't have the capacity to actively do those recovery things.