Approaching suicide the same as any other negative coping mechanism with kindness, compassion and curiosity, may be the best way to help yourself or someone else that is struggling with suicide.

At it's core, suicide is not a desire to die. It is a desire to stop hurting. When we acknowledge people's pain and listen to their story, we are often giving them something they have been missing, a caring compassionate listener.

In this epsisode, I offer suggestions for those that may be struggling with suicidal thoughts as well as those that might have friends or family members that are struggling. How to you help someone and what resources are out here?

For starters 988 is the National Suicide Prevention Line for non-emergency situations and of course there is 911 if there is an immediate possibility of loss of life (yours or someone elses).

This is a hard topic so I appreciate your interest and hope it will help you, or help you help others, as the case may be.

Alan Pennington, The Curious Counselor