I'm not going to do myself in... But I've considered it, and that fact alone terrifies me. I've talked to one of my friends about it once and it was little help, I just felt like he thought I wanted attention or something... He told me to talk to someone older, so I talked to my friend in college. He helped but I haven't been in much contact with him since. I feel like there's nobody I can talk to about my problems anymore. I just lost my best friend, my parents fight to the extent where I wish they would get divorced, and I just don't feel like my new school is good for me. I've been depressed for years and I've cut, although I knew it was dangerous and stopped with the help of a friend. The only thing that gives me the slightest touch of comfort is god, the bible, and my salvation. But sports are overpowering my life and because of pressure from my parents sports are taking priority over god, the one thing keeping me sane. I just don't know what to do.. Or who to talk to? I'm afraid that although I wouldn't actually commit suicide now, that I would seriously consider it if things got worse... I guess I'm getting desperate and this is my call out for help?... I just don't know about anything anymore. I'm lost.
Signed,
Rebecca, 14, Dublin OH

 

 

 Hello Rebecca,

 

It takes a lot of courage to look for help and seek out answers when you feel sad and confused.  Feeling lost is very lonely and cold. Let’s try to come up with some ideas so we can find a way to overcome these feeling so you are happy again.  I think it is great that you are able to prevent yourself from continuing to cut.  You area very strong individual and this strength is a very valuable tool.

 

When you’re depressed, it can be very painful to feel and can make you isolate from your friends and family, cause you to be tired all the time and take away your motivation to do things, make you not enjoy the things you usually like to do, make you sleep and eat much less or much more than usual, and make you see everything in your life in a negative way. Sometimes the depression can get so bad it can make a person think of ending their life. Sometimes people think about ending their life when they're feeling very depressed, feel hopeless that things will get better and helpless to make things better in their life. On www.us.reachout.com you'll find facts about depression by clicking on ‘struggles with feelings.

 

I’m glad you were able to contact your friend in college?  Why haven’t you been in more contact with him?  I recommend reaching out to multiple individuals that are perhaps even older than your friend in college.  Do you have a family member, teacher, doctor or school counselor that you can speak with?  You should reach out to them immediately to receive help.  Have you tried to reach out to someone through your religious community?  Your religion is a great comfort to you right now so perhaps there is an adult that can help guide you into the right direction.

 

Please know that there is treatment for depression and suicide including medication and/or therapy. It can help to talk with a mental health professional, such as a social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist about what you’re feeling and going through including your thoughts of wanting to die and feeling desperate in order to get the correct treatment to help you to feel better and to help you see choices and options you may not be aware that you have. On www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen_teenagers.htm you can learn more about depression and its treatment. On http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/

 

Additionally I was able to locate a website where you should be able to locate help near you by clicking on your county through this Ohio website.

http://www.mh.state.oh.us/where-to-get-help/?search=county&county=Union

 

You can also contact the Trevor lifeline at 1-866-4-U-Trevor, 24 hours 7 days a week. 

 

Looking forward to hearing back,

 

The Trevor Project