“If that happens, I’m going to kill myself!”

I’ve heard people use this phrase so many times and never give the implications a second thought. But suicide isn’t a joke and shouldn’t be treated lightly.

Coming from someone who has actually felt suicidal before, it didn’t feel like much of a joke. Too often, a person who is thinking about suicide can easily take a turn for the worse, with loved ones finding their body the next morning. Friends and family are left devastated and with a sinking feeling that they could have done something to prevent it from happening. 

In fact, people who have suicidal thoughts usually don’t talk about it, which isn’t good. They try to work it out by themselves, not realizing the condition they’re in means it probably won’t end well. It is so important to speak up and seek help from a loved one or trained professional. Mental health professionals are very kind people that have undergone years of college in order to help people with suicidal thoughts. They will slowly ask you about your problems and find ways to solve them at a moderate pace. But they can’t help you if you don’t ask for it.  And if you are lucky enough not to have had these thoughts, please, these words should never be used as a joke.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255