“It does get better,” says a survivor of suicide, whose story you will soon read.

India has the largest number of suicides in the world, with one suicide occurring every four minutes. Every suicide is a tragedy that haunts the deceased’s loved ones forever.

Suicide stems from a deep feeling to hopelessness — a point in a person’s life when they believe that there are no solutions to their problems and hardships. A key risk factor for suicide is depression. 

But suicide is preventable. There is always hope, no matter how difficult one’s circumstances are. No matter how devastating defeats are, everyone has the power to stand back up. 

From September 10 (World Suicide Prevention Day) to October 10 (World Mental Health Day), The Logical Indian in partnership with Suicide Prevention India Foundation (SPIF) will bring you untold stories of survivors of suicide, those who have lost close ones to suicide, and those of gatekeepers. Gatekeeper training (WHO-recommended suicide prevention strategy) trains anyone to pick up signs of suicide, listen with empathy, and help them get professional care. 

“Suicide Prevention India Foundation (SPIF) initiative is leveraging World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10) and World Mental Health Day (October 10), the theme for 2019 being suicide prevention. We intend to spread awareness on mental health well-being through a campaign called #yourlifematters,” says Nelson Vinod Moses, Founder at Suicide Prevention India Foundation. 

“The campaign is aimed at the 241 million strong youth population (15-24 years) and encourages them to reclaim their life, rewrite dominant narratives that attach a stigma to mental health issues, prioritize self-care, practice self-compassion and seek help when required. Research says almost 8 out of 10 people give verbal and/or non-verbal signs of suicide. But most of us are not trained to pick it up, including many mental health professionals,” he adds. 

Whether the death of a loved one comes after a long struggle with illness or whether it comes without warning, it is never easy to deal with it. The process of bereavement, however, becomes more challenging when we lose a close one to suicide.

Hope is essential. While it is not easy for those suffering from depression and other mental illnesses to gather hope and courage, people around them can always play a huge role in motivating them, giving them hope and making them smile.

Give them hope that the darkness will lift, and they will actually feel better. Give them hope that the emptiness will fill up with motivation and excitement. Give them hope that it will not be like this forever, and that they will get through it, even if it takes some time. Help them fight the battle. Let them know that they are not alone. 

Let us promise to help anyone who is in need of help and is unable to ask for it. Let us be compassionate, loving and caring.

Also Read: My Story: “Dealing With Mental Health Is A Struggle, Let Alone Society’s Stigma Around It”