Psychosis and suicide risk
Experiencing psychosis brings its share of difficulties and it can sometimes even seem insurmountable. Up to one in two young people have suicidal thoughts when they see a doctor for their first episode of psychosis (PEP) and up to one in 10 young people have attempted suicide shortly before receiving help. Generally, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts decrease with medical and psychosocial follow-up.
When you experience suicidal thoughts, it's important to talk to your loved ones or a professional and not to be alone with this distress. Receiving help early and quickly as well as having the support of a PEP clinic can help relieve this distress and decrease suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.
A combination of factors and events can lead to suicidal ideation. There is no single cause. However, having experienced suicidal ideation or attempted suicide, depression and problematic alcohol and drug use can contribute to suicidal ideation for a longer period of time. At any time, when you have these symptoms or think about suicide, it is important to talk about it as soon as possible and get help.
If we are worried about a member of our entourage, we must listen to our feelings and open a dialogue.
"It's difficult what you're going through, do you ever have suicidal thoughts?"
"I'm worried about you, do you ever think about wanting to die?"
"Do you think about suicide sometimes?"
Don't be alone with your concerns, start a discussion or talk to a professional.
Such is life
a creation by Susanne Serres and Veronika Leclerc Strickland.
Based on interviews with young people with lived experience, members of their entourage and professionals, this short film addresses, through Noé's journey, suicidal ideation in the context of a first psychotic episode.
It can be used to spark discussion by healthcare professionals in a clinical setting.
Synopsis of the film
For the first time in his life, Noé feels like his whole life is falling apart after experiencing a first psychotic episode. The story takes place some time after this episode, when she starts to get better. She reads us a letter she wrote to psychosis, the illness that afflicts her. Noé is afraid of losing his footing, of reliving another psychotic episode... For her, having a psychosis does not only stop at losing touch with reality, it is also about living with the "after".
Noé also speaks to his mother and family who have supported him throughout his journey to recovery. She shares her feelings and thoughts with them when she was experiencing moments of discouragement and life seemed too difficult for her. Through Noé's journey, see how the implementation of strategies and the support of loved ones allowed him to rebuild himself and regain hope.
Poster that can be used as an awareness tool. For better image quality, please print the poster in 11 x 17 format.
You need help?
Talk to your psychiatrist or clinic counsellor.
There are also resources to help you 24/7 if you are having suicidal thoughts or are worried about a loved one.
- By chat via the website: www.suicide.ca
- By phone: 1-866-call
- By text message: 535-353
Websites
https://commentparlerdusuicide.com
https://oseparlerdusuicide.com
Applications
Testimony
I remember feeling like I was faced with a dilemma: to live for myself or to live to please others to be there.
For a few months, I hung on and decided to live for others,
for if it had been only my own, I would not have stayed very long.
I postponed and postponed the date of my departure out of love for my family, my lover and my friends.
So as not to tarnish an important moment in their lives by my gesture.
So if someone asked me what makes me still here today, I would answer: love and time.
Out of love, I bought time
And time has allowed me to get better and better.
Time has allowed my medication to take effect and my work in psychotherapy to lead me to live better with myself.
By living better with myself, I slowly began to live for myself and not for others again.
I started to have projects again and to project myself into the future.
Although it is now behind me, this dark period of my life allows me today to be more sensitive to the light, present everywhere.
So that I savor the big moments more disguised as small moments of everyday life.
I approach life more awake;
I feel fulfilled.
-Chingy
Project funded by the Fonds de recherche du Québec (Dialogue program – Volet Relève étudiante) and the CHUM's Support Fund for the Academic Practice of Psychiatrists.
