NAMI Blog

"Dealing with suicide loss is hard enough already, so please, don’t place blame on anyone."

Self-compassion is a key part of the part of the grieving process and the healing process. It's essential to be patient and kind to yourself and reach out for extra support when you need it.

"I need to be especially careful when something goes wrong in my life because it could awaken the whispering voice in my head that tells me I can escape by dying. My dad must have heard that same voice. And I don’t want to end up like he did."

If there were a system in place to screen people for suicidal thoughts when they visit their primary care doctors, it could potentially save lives. Here's what that would look like. 

"I’ve learned to transform suicidal thinking into thoughts of hope. I can now manage and cope with these thoughts and be empowered by them to help others."

"There is no cure for grief. But I have learned from others further along in their grief, that with time, you learn to deal with it better."

After losing her brother to suicide, Sally made a commitment to learn more about suicide—especially how to talk openly about it. Here are her best practices for having conversations about suicide. 

"Even though I’m still struggling and sometimes seeing my future can be hard, I am determined to live the life I’ve been given."

When you say something insensitive or harmful to someone with mental illness, it’s important to recognize it, apologize and educate yourself. 

If you suspect a coworker has depression, you have the opportunity to intervene and make a difference in their lives. Here are a few tips.