I recently received a comment telling me that I shouldn’t work in “suicide prevention” instead “Your focus should be helping those who lost others to suicide. They’re the ones left with unanswered questions and overwhelming grief. Don’t get involved in suicide prevention.”
Raise your hand if feedback has ever made you second guess your choices.
Someone once wrote on a feedback form in a class presentation… ” her outfit was not business professional, seemed casual”
I wore a skirt and a grey sweater that day, thanks, your feedback on my presentation is very useful going forward. I’ll make sure to yank my blazer out of the closet next time I wear that outfit. That should do it.
Feedback. It can be crippling, but useful. I like to always think of it as feed forward when useful. But this comment on my work in suicide prevention as a waste and I should instead be helping those to who are survivors. hmm, funny since I am one who was left with unanswered questions. Grief support is not the solution, education, and prevention saves lives.
For every person who feels it’s their right to die, and hey, I honour your decision. There is someone desperately reaching out for help, begging for someone to recognize they need help. Listen with an open heart, connecting as a coping tool. ( remember when someone finally got you, that feeling that follows. Nice isn’t it. )
How about this:
I was left with unanswered questions
I live in overwhelming grief.
I know it is a mental illness
I know it is a stigma. Men should be strong, support their family, no crying.
I KNOW that it was not a choice
I know I cannot control people
I have enough validation to know what I’m doing is for both me and others
Going forward:
I will continue to do what I do
I will help people navigate through the grief as much as I can
I will continue to make sure my College encourages mental health well-being
I will not be ashamed of what I do
I will not let stigma make me hide
I will continue to remind myself what a wonderful person I am
Thank you kind commenter for my feed forward.
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