Why Suicidal People Should Ask For Help

I’ve seen a number of comments on social media lately, some of them directly related to me, criticising – or at least questioning – the notion of suicidal people asking for help on Facebook. Let me address it, not from an expert’s perspective, but from my own experiences. Firstly, as would seem obvious to all by the truly mentally deficient, a person who is – or says they are – suicidal, is not in their right mind. To say the least. They have reached some kind of personal extremis that has led them to a point where they desperately feel they need to ask for help. And society, to put it frankly, hates people who publicly (or privately for that matter) ask for help. It is still a taboo subject and seen as a sign of weakness. Sadly, as evinced by the many opinions (not insights – opinions) that I’ve read we still have a long way to go in that regard.

Secondly, if reading about someone else’s pain makes you feel personally uncomfortable, here’s a thing: tough shit. Grow a set. Or just don’t read it. No one is making you do or read anything. Not helping someone, is a perfectly reasonable option in my view, but if you want to criticise those that do, then I doubt your motivations somewhat. If someone wants to help someone else, let them get on with, free of your contumely. They’ll do what they want to do, whilst you cheerfully gaze at your own navel or whatever it is that’s more important to you.

Thirdly, and most importantly this: if I, or anyone else wants to ask for help, I’ll damn well do it and so should they. If you’re struggling with whatever it is that may well prove fatal, ASK FOR HELP NOW. Your life is on the line and that is worth more than a few words of idle scorn from people who don’t understand that. If more potential suicides had asked for help openly, more would be alive today. It’s as simple, as ruthless, and as sad as that.

My serious advice would be first to call the emergency services, who will try at least to save your life. After that, you go for it, whatever it takes: on social media, on the phone, round your neighbours house, any fucking where that might save your life – because no doubt about it, that’s what’s on the line.

Nick Jordan