One part of my job as a tech is to help with psychiatric patients. They may be checking in for a variety of reasons, but one that stands out are those who are checking in because of what is termed “suicidal ideations”. These are the folks who for whatever reason are having suicidal thoughts and afraid they may act upon them.

For such patients, we get them changed into hospital scrubs and then put them in a room where they can be observed. We’ll keep an eye on them until they are cleared by a psychiatry doctor. Basically we take away anything that they might use to harm themselves (hence no belts, sharp objects in the room, etc) and make sure if they do suddenly try, we can stop them.

The honest truth is, pretty much every patient I’ve had to do a “one to one” sit for has been fairly sedate. Generally by this point they’re calm and simply trying to purge the thoughts and waiting for psychiatry to take a look at them.

So why brave? Because society has a stigma against people committing suicide (a good thing in general I think) and it has a stigma against folks who express suicidal thoughts. This stigma can often reinforce the already negative thoughts in their head.

People with suicidal ideations have them for many different reasons, but often they feel a sense of worthlessness, “the world would be a better place without me” or “No one cares about me”.

And yet, they’re taking a leap of faith. They’ve come to us because they believe that “some cares enough to make sure I’m safe” and “the world is better with me still in it.” That’s brave.

Some sadly can’t find that bravery for a variety of reasons, or they’ve been brave multiple times, but the last time they couldn’t be.

But for those to do end up checking themselves in, I am awed that they are brave enough to make that leap of faith.

I’ll close by saying: if you or a loved one are having suicidal thoughts, please take a leap of faith and trust someone cares.

Call 988 – the national suicide hotline.

Or go to your local hospital and tell them you need help. They’ll help.

The world is a better place because you’re in it. Let’s keep it that way.