Suicide effects people of all ages from all walks of life every minute of every day.
There are times within the life when the thread of hope and positivity becomes lost. These are desperate times, times when the need for help coincides with an inability to reach out for it and a path through the darkness seems impossible to see.
Each case of suicide is unique in its own way, each individual case is different, each time a life of possibilities is lost, but so often, a sense of powerlessness can pervade the self, a sense of isolation, as the mind is unable to reach beyond the negative cycles of the conscious thoughts. Fear predominates until the self belief, the self worth is extinguished, there is nowhere left to turn and the only way left to claim back the power, the sense of choice, the control, when all else seems lost, is the ultimate destructive act of the freewill which is that if taking one’s life. This thought then can become the only focus until either it reaches its completion or it is disarmed through the experience within the self of hope, which can come in many ways but signals the reuniting of the finite, conscious emotional self which has disengaged or isolated itself, with the infinite self, and the sense of purpose that comes from it. From there the walls can come down and the bigger picture presents itself anew and in many cases the life can unfold again, often with greater belief, clarity and purpose than before.
So often loved ones, friends, families, communities, organisations also feel helpless in the face of suicide, but there is so much that we can do :
· We can truly listen
· We can care for others rather than just for ourselves and our loved ones.
· We can be compassionate to those who suffer quietly, offering a helping hand, sharing a kind thought, lifting our heads from our devices and smiling.
· We can create spaces of peace that offer solace and sustenance at times of need
· We can refresh the thread of life within ourselves so that the fear and anxiety doesn’t get a deeper hold within us, through embracing meditation and attitudes of wholeness in our lives so much pain can be alleviated and so much unnecessary suffering can be avoided.
· We can reach out lovingly to eachother, take responsibility for eachother, remember that we are here to be with one another.
· We can notice when the light in someone around us seems to go out or the light seems be fading.
· We can notice the suffering behind the smile, the pain behind the façade, the withdrawing , the isolation, the guilt and lack of self belief.
· We can within our organisations create watchers and protectors, those equipped to see the signs, hold the space, be the hope, the bridge of light.
· We can remember that life is about simple things: the love shared, the lessons learned, that nothing is beyond forgiveness and that nothing, nothing in this life is ever pointless or wasted.
· We can build a bridge of light within ourselves and between ourselves and others and we can inspire others to do the same.
· We can hope.
In all cases suicide leaves a void, something unfinished, an unfulfilled life, a life extinguished too soon. It does not bring completion or resolution and the turmoil does not cease with the ending, it continues, casting its shadow on all within its midst. Let us unite on this special day to send hope into those shadows and to create a bridge of light across which all those who are suffering can walk to find the essence of life again.
If you are feeling suicidal please reach out and if you cannot please reach inwards, for in beyond the darkness is a pinprick of light, like a distant star of hope, that will allow you to one day reach outwards again.
We are here if you wish to reach out to us. We will listen and we do care.
This is our offering to you if you are thinking of taking your own life, if someone you know has already done so or if you believe someone you know is considering it.
May it bring to you a moment of hope.
Please find below a 10 minute audio file of a healing meditation.
We have also attached a NHS “Letter of Hope” that is a wonderful resource that you might want to share with others in need.