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

[TideisTurning]

Let's get started with our first question for @Snowdragon; What language can we use to safely discuss suicide?   

[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]

@puzzlingdino, from the point of view of a suicidal person, it is very difficult to talk openly about, because people don't want to hear what you have to say, so you invariably get shut down - particularly when you start going in to the justifications, no matter how civil and patient you are.

[chibam]

Hi @Shaz51 ! 🙂

[Snowdragon]

Forums such as this one play an important role in communicating safely about suicide and its impacts. It’s important to consider the language used in portraying suicide on social media to avoid causing offence, stigmatising or sensationalising suicide. 

Inaccurate language can alienate members of the community or inadvertently present suicide as glamorous or as an option for dealing with problems. A safe discussion does not include method or location. When posting about your own experiences, emphasise help, hope, and recovery. For example, include: 

• Things that stopped you from acting on your thoughts or urges. 
• The people, places, strategies, and personal strengths that helped you cope. 
• Things you have achieved. 
• Experiences of positive help-seeking, for example, talking to a friend or family member. 
• That recovery is an up and down process and can look different for everyone. Be mindful that recovery can mean different things to different people. 

[lemlem678]

Hi @Shaz51

[Shaz51]

@Snowdragon , @TideisTurning 

I stepped into a suicide attempt of my husband which stopped at that moment @amber22 

But it has left me visions ever since 

[TideisTurning]

That's a great question @lemlem678! We'll be chatting about chronic suicidality very soon in the discussion 😊

[lemlem678]

Yes i agree with this. No one wants to talk about it because THEY get uncomfortable about it. But it results in us shutting down and not feeling supported anywhere or by anyone.

[amber22]

I thought it might be helpful to link our SANE Forums ‘How to guide’ on how to safely speak about suicide online and on our forums. Often, it can be scary sharing how you really feel online because you might not know the best way to come across with it, and you also might not want others to take what you’re saying the wrong way or escalate it when it doesn’t need to be, etc. So, this might come in handy when wanting to know how to express what you’re feeling online here with others, whilst also letting the moderators know where you’re at in your safety. It is absolutely okay to speak about suicidality on the SANE Forums, as long as you indicate that you are ‘safe for now’ so that we know not to escalate it further for your own safety!