One question can save a life. Choosing to answer it, honestly, could save yours. This World Suicide Prevention Day we’re sharing how to start the conversation with someone you suspect is struggling with their mental health, or how to answer, honestly, if someone asks you.
Mental health can be incredibly daunting to speak about. Not only can it feel impossible to reduce the swirling twirling knot of negative emotions someone is feeling into a coherent description for another person to understand, it’s also one of the most emotionally-triggering and taboo subjects there is, none more highly-charged or difficult to broach than suicide.
Yet, we’re stuck in the midst of an ever-growing mental health crisis where 1 in 100 deaths are caused by suicide (WHO, 2019), and a frightening majority of these are affecting young people, with suicide now the most common cause of death for under 24s (calmzone, 2024). So why aren’t we talking about it?
Recognising when a friend or family member is struggling with their mental health can be challenging, and deciding to try and talk to them about it even more so. Many of us end up avoiding the subject completely because we’re worried about finding the right time, saying the wrong thing, surfacing negative emotions for that person, or actually being able to help. But sometimes, even just starting a conversation could be all that’s needed to help that person understand their feelings, take one step towards help and find their way through.
This World Suicide Prevention Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) wants us to help change the narrative on suicide and mental health by simply, starting the conversation. By doing this, we can help move away from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding and support, which could change how suicide and mental health is perceived. And, be the starting point for getting help to many people who need it.
Although it might sounds scary, starting the conversation doesn’t need to be. All you need to do is start by asking or answering one question.
Here are some questions and honest answers to help you start the conversation.
Q: How are you really doing?
A: I’m not doing okay.
Q: How is your mental health?
A: I’ve been struggling with my mental health.
Q: Do you need someone to talk too?
A: I think I might need to talk to someone.
A: Yes I would like to talk to someone. Could you help me look into it?
Q: Have you been having negative thoughts about yourself?
A: I have been struggling with negative thoughts, and I would like to talk it through with someone.
A: I have been struggling with negative thoughts, but I am talking it through with someone.
For more help on suicide prevention, please visit https://www.iasp.info/wspd/
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