World Suicide Prevention Day

[Jim Allen]

10th of Sept is World Suicide Prevention Day. https://iasp.info/wspd2018/

I sure (hope) anyone plugged onto social media has seen tones of information and, post on this today. I just wanted to mention it in short and not let the day go by without mentioning it, I've been writing this post for 8 hours.

I do like this publication called "take a minite"
https://iasp.info/wspd/pdf/2018/2018_wspd_take_a_minute.pdf

Taking a minute to reach out to someone in your community – a family member, friend, colleague or even a stranger – could change the course of another’s life.

Sadly suicide is a topic that impacts and continues to impact far too many people & families from all walks of life, its also an issue that has far higher rates under the HIV community at large. It certainly has had deep profound and a lasting impact on  this forum community and, many of its members. 
 
My own thoughts on this are that we as bystanders can't fix the world but we can offer meaningful support to people in need by being reassuring that they're not alone, and it can be hard to remember that we do not need to understand their feelings to show compassion, sometimes just something as simply saying "I'm sorry you're in so much pain." can mean a lot to a person.
 
Take care.

Jim

http://www.aidsmap.com/Suicide-accounts-for-2-of-deaths-in-people-with-HIV-twice-the-rate-of-the-general-population/page/3130052/

https://www.poz.com/article/british-men-hiv-commit-suicide-double-national-rate

https://www.jwatch.org/na46958/2018/06/26/who-increased-risk-death-suicide-french-hiv-cohort-data

If anyone reading this or someone you love/know is suicidal, please do seek help immediately or go to your local emergency room.

Global list - Suicide helplines provide help to those in need. Contact a helpline if you need support yourself or need help supporting a friend.
https://www.facebook.com/help/www/103883219702654?helpref=uf_permalink

Worldwide support - Befrienders - http://www.befrienders.org - http://www.befrienders.org

[Jim Allen]

I see poz.com tweeted on this subject:



https://twitter.com/pozmagazine/status/1039202905344106496

My take on it is that under the group out of intimidate physical danger, so the 50% of us that have access to HIV treatment, the suicide & depression rates time and time again has been shown to be at far higher than the average population, its a serious issue.

Yet, whist many identify and would agree that the mental health & well-being truly is important, my perception remains its still sorely overlooked (lacking) or under funded in professional HIV care settings ...

Mini rant over.

Jim

BTW the welcome thread has tones of information & links to support.
https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=69487.0

Also here is a basic lesson that is very well written on depression
https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/hiv-depression

[MarkintheDark]

Yet, whist many identify and would agree that the mental health & well-being truly is important, my perception remains its still sorely overlooked (lacking) or under funded in professional HIV care settings ...

Your rant is justified, imo, and this is a subject of particular interest to me, though my focus is more on those who are LTS.  Just as applicable across the board, however.

It's more of an ongoing battle for our community, just as the mere recognition of HIV/AIDS was in the 80s.  Yet again we are the ones who have to advocate for ourselves.  I've found my effectiveness is more on a personal level than, say, institutional.  In short, when my needs aren't being addressed, unfair as it may seem that I'm put in that position, I become a real pain until the issue is resolved.  For a guy with a generally pleasant disposition it's no small feat to be a jackass.

[Ptrk3]

You are correct, Maninthedark:  be one's own staunchest advocate, stay strong, persistent, and remember always our ACT-UP brothers and sisters who sacrificed before us:  life is worth living. 

Depression is a state of mind, sometimes transitory as a storm or a bad day.  Other times, crucially to be treated as the HIV with appropriate medication and, as needed, cognitive therapy.

Thanks, Jim, for this important reminder that peace of mind is as important as physical health.

[hippo1010]

Thanks for posting this. In addition to that, I found this interesting blog entry from a person who is a User Interface designer. He had Google change the way the search engine responds when people enter things like "How to kill yourself", or "I hate myself". Originally, Google had a simple link to the local suicide prevention line, but this guy decided to have a more detailed page inquiring what is the concern of the person entering the words in Google.

I find it very useful and interesting.

Here:

https://uxdesign.cc/preventing-suicide-the-modern-way-86a816e2bf07