Indeed, those experiencing such extreme mental agony are often desperate for attention and help. Self-harm, in such cases, becomes a means to get people to notice their plight. And a lucky few, like Adwaita, have a support system to lean on during such spells of vulnerability. Her parents and a circle of close friends were always there for her to confide in. They supported her when she took a year off to recuperate. “I got psychiatric help. And I have created my own safety net that comprises the work I do, the people I trust, and the hobbies and passions I have developed diligently,” she says.
While having a support system might be essential, the strength to go on with life must come from within the individual. The professionals at SAHAI Helpline for Suicide Prevention & Emotional Distress know this all too well. Dr Babita Gupta, who manages the helpline, explains, “People won’t be around to stop you from harming yourself every second of the day. So, the determination to keep such tendencies at bay must come from you. Which is why, when a suicidal person calls us, we largely refrain from giving advice. We get them to talk for a while, calm down and see for themselves that suicide won’t solve anything.”
Needless to say, seeking psychiatric help is often helpful and, in many cases, necessary. Seeing the therapist periodically can then become part of one’s self-care routine, which is especially crucial for those battling mental illnesses. And once the individual begins to recover, they can focus on developing a healthy coping mechanism.
Adwaita shares that maintaining a journal can be one of the ways to cope. Writing in it every day can help a person monitor their feelings and keep track of their actions and accomplishments. That way, they will know when they’re going off-course. It is also important to find one healthy relationship to hold on to, according to Dixit. A person battling suicidal thoughts should confide in a close friend or a family member they trust in moments of vulnerability, she says.
Coping with mental illness can be an uphill battle, and often an isolating one at that. So, when that debilitating sense of hopelessness swoops down on us like the dementors Harry Potter feared, it may help to recall the happiest memories of our lives and let them give us a reason to hold on. Our inner strength can then become the Patronus Charm to dispel the darkness. In the wise words of Albus Dumbledore: “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
*Some names have been changed