❝My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.❞ - Maya Angelou
|| WattpadEmpowered is an Ambassador-managed hub with the aim of creating and supporting the c...
Content warning: suicide, depression | If you're uncomfortable reading about these topics and/or are easily triggered, please consider skipping this article. In case you, or your loved one(s), struggle with any kind of mental illness, we strongly encourage you to seek help. You can find international helplines & resources at the very end of this chapter.
Each year, the month of September raises awareness of Suicide and is also known as Suicide Prevention Month. In this month, we also recognize Suicide Prevention Week and the 10th of the month as Suicide Prevention Day.
Suicide doesn't just affect the victim, but everyone. It impacts loved ones long after they lose their loved one. The majority, ⅔ of everyone who commits suicide, suffers from depression and on average, someone commits suicide every 16.2 minutes.
Not all who suffer from depression show signs and identifying depression can be difficult. Yours and your loved ones' mental health should always be taken seriously. Often, people with depression need a caring friend. Someone who's there for them, even if they're not ready to talk. Whether the weight of a long-term struggle or a crisis weighs you down, allow friends, family or a professional to lighten the burden by finding support.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Suicide is a global phenomenon. Among 15-29 years old, suicide is the leading cause of death. The leading risk factors to suicide includes mental health, inability to cope with life stressors, and chronic pain and illnesses. Some of the most vulnerable groups include refugees, prisoners, LGBTQIAP+ community and bullied kids.
Suicide is preventable. For instance, reducing access to firearms and medication, and increasing access to treatment for depression is one way to prevent it. It's also important to educate yourself, even if you don't think someone in your family or group of friends is experiencing this, they may very well be and don't show it. It's also important to educate yourself on where to find help in case you ever find yourself in a situation where you're contemplating taking your life.
We all experience mental illness differently, but these are some common symptoms and signs adults and adolescents with a mental illness may be experiencing. Of course, it differs from person to person and some might be experiencing a symptom that is not on this list.
>> Excessive worrying or fear
>> Feeling excessively sad or low
>> Confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning
>> Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable "highs" or feelings of euphoria
>> Prolonged or strong feelings of irritability or anger
>> Avoiding friends and social activities
>> Difficulties understanding or relating to other people
>> Changes in sleeping habits or feeling tired and low energy
>> Changes in eating habits such as increased hunger or lack of appetite
>> Changes in sex drive
>> Difficulty perceiving reality (delusions or hallucinations, in which a person experiences and senses things that don't exist in objective reality)
>> Inability to perceive changes in one's own feelings, behavior or personality ("lack of insight" or anosognosia)
>> Overuse of substances like alcohol or drugs
>> Multiple physical ailments without obvious causes (such as headaches, stomach aches, vague and ongoing "aches and pains")
>> Thinking about suicide
>> Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress
>> An intense fear of weight gain or concern with appearance
Mental health isn't limited to teens, adults and elders. Children experience mental health issues as well and experience different symptoms.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
If you or a loved one is suffering from suicide, depression or another mental illness, seek help. For international help, click here to know your country's crisis hotline right here on Wattpad.
