**Trigger warning ⚠️ sensitive topic **
On world mental health day I’d like to share a story that might just help someone… It is my story but it’s also not about me at all. It’s about other people who are important and need and deserve love and kindness…
I’ll never forget the day (many years ago now) that my close friend sat me down and told me she owed me her life. I was shocked to say the least at this massive far reaching statement and asked her to explain. She said she’d be suicidal (I had no idea but I knew she’d been struggling) and all the times I’d called her, talked to her, tried to make her laugh, dragged her to the pub for a drink and a laugh and just generally let her know I was there for her. She said those times had saved her life. That she’d been suicidal and if it wasn’t for me being there for her and showing her there was a reason to live she’d have done it. She had planned it and she was going to do it. I was stunned. Humbled and stunned all at the same time. All I could do was hug her and cry. Shocked that my beautiful, intelligent, compassionate and amazing friend could have such a low view of herself and placed such little value on her life. Shocked that she’d planned it and shocked that my actions could have prevented her from doing the unthinkable. And I was grateful. Grateful that the amazing and beautiful person she was was/is still alive and with us today.
But I understood…
Because I’ve been there myself.
I’m not ashamed to say that. It was a long time ago now and I’m not that person anymore… But it can happen to anyone at anytime in their life. No matter how happy and together they might seem on the outside. You never know. Grief, trauma, abuse, bullying, poor finances, relationship breakdowns, addictions, low self worth, the pressures of life… There can be many reasons people get to a place where they just can’t see reason to live anymore.
I wanted to write this post because I’ll never forget that day and what my friend told me and I’m so glad I listened to my gut and made sure that she was ok.
Now please, this post isn’t about me or what I did, it’s nothing to do with me or what I did at all because I had no idea she was planning to take her own life. I was just being myself and trying to be there for her because I knew she was struggling and my gut told me to keep checking in on her.
But please, if you’re friends say they are struggling, listen to them and take it seriously. Chances are that they’ve dulled it down a lot about how bad it really is. Chances are it’s taken incredible courage to even admit they’re struggling. Chances are your kindness will just give them that little spark of hope they need to carry on. Take time to care and just be there (if you can). And if you an’t, point them to someone who can. Tell them you care, that their life is important and things will get better. It might just save someone’s life. Peace and love 💗 xxxx
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