Overcomers

The Statewide Suicide Prevention Council has a member who shares her experience with attempting suicide. Thankfully, she survived her attempts and has made involvement in suicide prevention a part of her healing. In the language of suicide prevention, she is an “attempter.”  But she calls herself an “overcomer.”

Previously I’ve posted on the power of language in our work, and how important it is to use empowering and inclusive language. So I love (LOVE!) the idea of considering people who have survived an attempt to commit suicide as “overcomers.” Overcoming despair, overcoming hopelessness, overcoming depression, overcoming suicide – whether it’s for a day, a month, or a year –   is an achievement we should support and celebrate.

The data shows that someone who attempts suicide is more likely to attempt suicide again within the next 6-12 months. In Alaska, 819 people attempted suicide in 2007 and 149 people died by suicide. We focus on the lives we’ve lost, and the grief we feel over those losses – but shouldn’t we also celebrate and support the 670 people that lived?

What prevents us from supporting and caring for someone who has attempted suicide?

Are we afraid that if we talk about it, they will try again? (That’s just not true – research shows that talking with someone about their feelings of suicide and how to find help actually can prevent suicide.)

Are we afraid it might be our fault? (We can’t assume responsibility for the feelings of suicide experienced by someone else. We can take responsibility for helping, or choosing not to help, someone in crisis.)

Are we afraid we don’t know what to say? (You can find something to say. You can seek out training, like Mental Health First Aid or ASIST, to learn how to listen and what to say. Or, you can simply say “Your life matters to me.”)

If we acknowledge our own fears, and recognize that those fears are unfounded, we can then be brave and open our hearts to someone who needs support and love in their journey of overcoming.

A Quilt Made in Honor of Loved Ones Lost to Suicide