Let's Talk About Suicide Prevention

The Basic Needs Edition

*A reminder that the Palestine resource guide can be downloaded here or by clicking on the image.

Chile, I have pneumonia. 

Because I am unserious and believe that every illness I experience is the result of racism and/or stress, I asked the ER physician if stress could cause pneumonia and she said “actually, yes.”

MA’AM PLEASE, I WAS JOKING. 

Poverty can go to hell. 

Let’s talk about suicide prevention beyond safety contracts, wellness checks and crisis lines. 

I exist in a state of suicidal ideation. 

And it isn’t because I want to die. 

I actually wanna live - just not like this. 

• I lack true community 

• My health is in shambles

• I’ve never had financial stability 

• I have chronic unmet basic needs

• I’ve been housing insecure for decades

This is not a life, it’s daily crisis management. Why would I want to stay?

And ok, fine! I’m severely depressed too. However, I could live with that. 

But to be depressed while I live in poverty, am constantly worried about staying housed, can’t care for my health and I have to face it on my own? 

There are days when I want to put down the heaviness forever.

I can’t even afford the tiny comforts that make life bearable - it sucks.

This is why ideation stays tucked in my own back pocket. 

But since I’m always about that resource life, here are a handful of ways (I believe) you can support a person who may want to end their life. 

1. Find out why

Outside of therapists, I’ve never been asked why I’m suicidal. People are afraid to talk about it because that…makes it real? Or perhaps it’s because we live in a violent, colonized society where we are deeply disconnected from our own humanity and the emotional lives of each other. 

Who can say? 

As for me, I need money. That’s it. 

I don’t need therapy, a crisis line or a safety plan. I need resources. 

lmao, I’m playin’ - I absolutely need therapy.

You know what I mean. 

2. Don’t wait for an ask

If you know a person is already on edge emotionally and they’re overwhelmed with financial challenges, childcare, running errands, making meals or any basic need, then don’t wait for an ask to offer support. 

Wait, hold on. Consent. 

Consent in Mutual Aid is important. 

• If you already have an established relationship, hit up their payment handles 

• Want to help out with groceries? Find out their food preferences and allergies 

• Unsure what would be helpful? Ask them, my love! 

This ain’t gotta be hard. 

Another way you can show up for others is through mealtrain.com. 

Meal train allows you to create a page for friend in need of support. Use this site to schedule food drop offs, send gift cards or donate funds. 

I created my own page (monetary donations only) to get a sense of how user friendly it is and because, please see above. 

Click the image to contribute to my personal Meal Train

Another top tier resource is findhelp.org.

Type in your location, the resource you need and DONE. 

A cautious heads up: Often these programs are at capacity, have limited resources or are only available every fifth Tuesday for 15 minutes.

Consider Find Help a place to start. 

3. Wellness checks - just say no. 

One day I plan to write about why (carceral) wellness checks are hot trash. Today ain’t that day. All I’ll say is this - your well intentioned wellness check could end my Black life. I’ll leave it there.

If you just have to make a call, try Don’t Call the Police - a directory of community based alternatives to police in your city. 

*Please do your own due diligence on the crisis lines provided to find out who they work with.

Want to share a warm line with someone without causing further harm? Say less.

Image c/o Inclusive Therapists on Instagram

Feel free to share any additional harm reduction based resources you know of in the comments. 

About to head out of here and start on my next project which will hopefully (?) help me build a stable income, relocate out of the country for my safety and sanity and help me take care of my health after decades of poverty induced neglect. 

Or, mayhaps I’ll take a nap. 

I deserve rest too.

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2024 Goal: To only write about poverty and not continue to live in it.

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#PovertySucks