I was 16 years old when my dad, who lived with depression, died by suicide. His unexpected death profoundly impacted my family. Isolated by stigma, I struggled in silence for years, internalizing my grief and never speaking about my dad or his death. Nearly twenty years later, I discovered my local NAMI—NAMI Southwestern […]
[…] halt, a pick-up truck was rear-ended by someone not paying attention. The driver of that truck lost his life. If someone had recognized the warning signs of suicide in this young girl and gotten her help, two deaths could have been avoided that day. This incident really affected me. I’m from Gaston County and […]
[…] better understand this complex condition, I talked with a NAMI HelpLine volunteer who bravely told me his story. Randy* was diagnosed with BPD at 17 after a suicide attempt landed him in the hospital. “The concept of being able to like yourself and want to live just went over my head,” he explained. “I […]
[…] to my childhood home, which had been meticulously clean when I was young, I found it cluttered beyond recognition—evidence of my mother’s deterioration. Her crying episodes and suicide threats increased in frequency and intensity and caused me unbelievable pain and anxiety. Some of the incidents from my twenties are burned in my brain: the […]
[…] into an extended bout of depression, which has required hospitalization, medication, shock treatments, lots of therapy and time off work. My depression comes with persistent thoughts of suicide, and I have attempted suicide more than once. Recovery is never quick: My first depressive episode required a two-year stay in a psychiatric hospital for me […]
[…] that we were under constant watch. The staff was concerned that we were potentially dangerous to ourselves and others. Everything in the psych ward was violence and suicide proof. Even the personal belongings our loved ones brought were carefully checked. I had never been violent or suicidal before in my life. I started thinking: […]
[…] alone. Yet at the same time, when a pop culture phenomenon that addresses such challenges goes viral—like the movie “A Star is Born,” which talks about addiction and suicide—the constant media and social attention could have an adverse impact on some. What Does it Mean to be Triggered? For people with mental health issues, […]
[…] knew what to do if they saw one of their friends struggling. They knew to find a trusted adult or reach out to the Crisis Text Line or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. They knew they could help a friend by including them, checking in on them or writing them a positive note. They knew to take […]
[…] family to the town where I attended university. My new home offered no queer community or network of friends. My hope evaporated. And one day, I attempted suicide. Sadly my story is not uncommon for someone in my community, as being LGBTQ puts a person at a higher risk for suicide attempts. LGB adults are also more than twice […]
[…] after inpatient treatment or as a preventative measure before a person needs a higher level of care. Take, for example, a woman who is hospitalized for a suicide attempt or a teen who is experiencing suicidal thoughts. The woman might seek out a partial hospitalization program as the next step in her recovery after her […]
NAMI HelpLine is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Call 800-950-6264,
text “helpline” to 62640, or chat online. In a crisis, call or text 988 (24/7).
