{"id":16165,"date":"2015-11-23T11:59:17","date_gmt":"2015-11-23T11:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.anfocal.ie\/?p=16165"},"modified":"2015-11-23T11:59:17","modified_gmt":"2015-11-23T11:59:17","slug":"mind-your-mental-health-5-suicide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.anfocal.ie\/index.php\/mind-your-mental-health-5-suicide\/","title":{"rendered":"Mind your mental health 5: Suicide"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Aisling O\u2019Connor<\/p>\n
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Every year suicide rates peak around Christmas time. We can\u2019t provide all the answers to this troubling issue, but we can assure you that you\u2019re not alone. Here are some things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n
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Reach out to someone, you are not alone and there are people out there who want to help before it\u2019s too late, be it professionals or friends and family.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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While preventing things from getting worse, by looking to suicide you also prevent the chance of things ever getting better.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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No one will go to your funeral and think \u201cI\u2019m glad they did it\u201d, they will cry, they will blame themselves, and they will be absolutely devastated. You are loved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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However, don\u2019t just stick around for others. Do it for yourself. Do it because you are worthy and capable of living a long and happy life, even if it doesn\u2019t feel like that sometimes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Think of all the people who have been suicidal but ended up with happy, successful lives. If they can survive, so can you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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2015 may not have been your year, and maybe the years before weren\u2019t either, but maybe 2016 is. Have hope. I\u2019m not saying things will get better overnight, but life is a series of ups and downs. Once you\u2019ve experienced the downs, you learn to appreciate the highs more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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If someone you know is showing signs of thoughts of suicide, such as frequently discussing death, changes in behaviour such as sleep or eating patterns, giving away possessions and withdrawing from others, let them know you\u2019re concerned and try to get them help.<\/p>\n
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