By Courtney Diles Henderson
Awhile back, an article titled “Suicide: The impact on believers” came out in The Tribune. While it had its merits, I have a lot I would like to add.
Not everyone has grappled with suicide, so for some, it’s hard to be compassionate. However, the scientific truth is that suicidal compulsions are just one of the innumerable ways our brain tries to protect us from pain. That does not make it right, but it’s not something that should be judged or punished. After all, it takes a great deal of suffering to reach that point to begin with and isn’t that suffering enough?
I find it helps my fellow mental health warriors when I express solidarity; I myself suffer from major depressive disorder. I have been through electroconvulsive therapy and I have been hospitalized three times.
However, I am also a mental health advocate. I have answered calls for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255) and The Crisis Text Line (741741), along with six others. I have participated in fundraising walks with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and I have been trained as a support group facilitator with the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
My suicidal thoughts were at their worst about five years ago. I came across a book called “How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me” by Susan Blauner, and it taught me how to make a crisis plan. This is a set of steps you can take when you feel like hurting yourself.
The first item on my crisis plan is breathing exercises. The fifth is “Write something,” because writing is my passion. It goes on to list the numbers of the people I can call when I am in crisis, and it ends with this — “Call 911 and keep both hands on the phone.”
I would like to recommend the Columbus Regional Health Mental Health Unit to anyone who feels they need help staying safe. Dignity is a priority there. For the best chance of getting admitted, go to the Columbus Regional Health ER.
It was during my most recent stay there that the psychiatrist offered me a medication that has eliminated the vast majority of my suicidal thoughts and given me my life back. After ten years of this fight, I did not think I would ever find the right combination of medication for me — but I did.
If you are struggling, please consider these resources and know my heart is with you.
Courtney Diles is a local novelist and mental health advocate. Send comments to [email protected].