Imagine this: You are in middle school, and your best friend is transgender. He hasn’t told his family yet because he’s afraid of how they might react. This has been bothering him for months, and today he has sent you a text that he had just lost “24 shot glasses” of blood. When you ask him what happened, he tells you that he had attempted suicide without anyone knowing. You remember hearing about Leelah Alcorn, another transgender person who had successfully committed suicide, and you are afraid that your friend will end up like her. You are so scared of the thought, and you want to help him, but you don’t know what to tell him. Has this, or anything similar, ever happened to you? If you said yes, I have a suggestion for you so that you can help your friends through thoughts of suicide. Even though there are many ways to help a suicidal individual, I strongly believe that, whatever it is that is making them think this way, the best way to help someone who is suicidal is to get them help from professionals.

One reason I think getting help from professionals is the best way to help a suicidal individual is because it may also help them through any mental illnesses they might have. Untreated depression is the leading cause of suicide (“Suicide!,” 2016). A few other mental illnesses that could spark suicidal thinking are PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder (“Mayo Clinic,” 1998). These become very serious problems the longer a person lives through them without getting help. The longer a person goes without help, the more their problems and thoughts of suicide destroy them on the inside--and, in some cases, the outside as well. It is estimated that one in twenty-five people who attempt suicide actually die by suicide (“Suicide!,” 2016). Think about it: one out of twenty-five isn’t as small a number as it may seem when you consider how many people there are in the world. Studies have shown that about 750,000 people in the U.S. attempt suicide each year, and about 30,000 of those attempts are successful (“Suicide!,” 2016). Isn’t that a lot of people? Professionals can not only help you overcome mental illnesses that can cause suicidal thoughts, but they can also help you through stressful life events.

Another reason I think getting help from professionals is the best way to help a suicidal individual is because it could help them get over events in their life that put a lot of stress on them. Sometimes, stressful life events can lead to suicidal thinking. Some examples of stressful life events in general are the death of a loved one or a breakup. A few things that could cause kids or teens to think of suicide are if they are a victim of bullying, they have a history of physical or sexual abuse, or if they are unsure of their identity (“Mayo Clinic,” 1998). Can you believe that people like us have to go through these kinds of things at such a young age? People in the LGBT community, no matter how old they are, are at risk of suicide if their family is unsupportive or if they are treated with hostility (“Mayo Clinic,” 1998). In 2011, a study by the National Center for Transgender Equality revealed that 41% of 6,450 transgender or nonconforming people have attempted suicide (“CNN,” 2015). That’s about 2,645 people! Professionals can help a suicidal individual get over stressful life events, but it’s also important to talk to someone you trust if you are having suicidal thoughts.

People who think differently would say that people who say they are suicidal are only looking for attention. It’s true, there are people out there who go to these kinds of measures to get the attention of others. I get how people might think that way, but they are wrong. More often than not, people with suicidal thoughts will show warning signs that they are suicidal (“Mayo Clinic,” 1998). Watch for those. A few examples of warning signs are if they isolate themselves from other people, they are self-deprecating, they write stories or poems about death, they’ve been giving their belongings away, or they show an interest in sharp objects or firearms. If, after being extremely depressed, they show a sudden sense of calm, that usually means they have chosen to commit suicide (“HelpGuide,” 2016). If you knew someone who said they were suicidal and saw how calm they were after a long period of despair, would you still think they were “only looking for attention?” What if, after that day, you never saw them again for the rest of your life? You would regret not helping them. Trust me, it would have made all the difference. I’d know.

In conclusion, suicidal thoughts should not be taken lightly--or worse, dismissed. Professionals, like your doctor, can help you deal with them properly. Suicidal thoughts can be caused by certain mental illnesses, especially depression. Stressful life events can also cause suicidal thinking. Suicidal thoughts should be taken seriously because it could lead to the death of a person. If you think someone might be suicidal, don’t hesitate to ask them. If you are having suicidal thoughts, don’t leave yourself alone with them. It’s not worth it to go through with suicide. Things will get better, even if you don’t think so. You are worth it.