EPIGRAPH
WELCOME
FORWARD
EDITOR’S NOTE: WHY THIS BOOK MATTERS TO ME
ONE
SO YOU THINK YOU WANT TO DIE?
Hello
The Reality of Suicidal Fantasy
Moderation and Time Limits
Me
Finding Life Essence
Change (Arghhh) and Choices
TWO
OUTTHINKING SUICIDE
Breathing
The Language of Suicide
The Neuron Superhighway
The Grim Reaper
Brain Style
Recognizing and Avoiding Triggers
Stopping the Snowball
Finding Relief
THREE
TRICKS OF THE TRADE
TRICK #1
Asking for Help
TRICK #2
Emergency Contacts
TRICK #3
A Crisis Plan
TRICK #4
Feelings
Identifying Feelings
Feelings Chart
Feelings Galore List
Tracing Feelings Back
Stating a Feeling
TRICK #5
Feelings Versus Facts
TRICK #6
The Brady Bunch Syndrome
TRICK #7
Spirituality, Nature, Meditation
Spirituality
Nature
Meditation
TRICK #8
Acting As If
TRICK #9
HALT
Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired
TRICK #10
Keeping a Journal
TRICK #11
Tasks and Activities—Healthy Diversions
TRICK #12
The Telephone Lifeline and Phone Lists
TRICK #13
Contracts for Safety
TRICK #14
Brain Food
TRICK #15
Therapy
TRICK #16
Vitamin “P”
TRICK #17
“Oh, What a Beautiful Morning”—Sayings and Affirmations
TRICK #18
Mirror Work and Inner Dialoguing
TRICK #19
Service—Helping Others
TRICK #20
Movement and Exercise
TRICK #21
Sound and Color
Sound
Color
TRICK #22
Support Groups
TRICK #23
Structure
TRICK #24
Hospitalization
TRICK #25
What About an Afterlife?
FOUR
THERE IS HOPE! LETTERS FROM MY THERAPIST, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS
Honesty
Sylvia’s Perspective
A Brother’s Walk on Eggshells
Watching Her Husband, My Brother
Like a Holiday from Adulthood
God Doesn’t Make Junk!
Sue’s Song
Rich with Humanity, Hope, and Change
FIVE
HELPING THE SUICIDAL THINKER
Introduction
Risk Factors and Warning Signs
Suicide Facts and Statistics
WORDS
What I Heard Versus What I Needed to Hear
Delivery and Timing
Expressing Your Feelings
Acknowledging Their Pain
Speaking from Love
BELIEFS
Secrets Are Deadly
It’s Okay to Talk About It
It’s a Family Challenge
Change Is Possible
ACTIONS
Listening Well
Respecting Boundaries While Taking Action
Practicing Patience and Compassion
Getting Educated and Finding Your Own Support
SIX
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
geese (a poem written by Christopher Brehl)
I Recognize…
Destiny
SEVEN
HOTLINES, WEBSITES, AND OTHER RESOURCES
Hotlines and Suicide Prevention Organizations
Crisis Hotlines
Hotlines in Canada
Organizations
Organizations in Canada
Twelve Step Organizations
Book Lists
Books Useful to Me
General Works
On Youth
On the Elderly
For Professionals
For Survivors
NOTES
SEARCHABLE TERMS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
COPYRIGHT
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER