Light at the end of the tunnel: The Power of Conversations in Suicide Prevention

by Aditya (name changed to maintain anonymity)

Hey readers, I hope you are doing well! Every year, World Suicide Prevention Day serves as a reminder of the importance of mental health and the power of human connection. For a lot of us, the struggles with mental health can feel overwhelming, isolating, and impossible to escape. But there is always hope, hope that can be found in shared stories, and in understanding that you are never truly alone.

Today, I have decided to take a big step and share something that has been very personal to me. An experience, which is not going to be easy to tell, but I hope to reach to anyone who might be struggling in silence. At the same time, I hope to offer guidance to everyone to be able to recognize the signs of someone in distress and how to really help them. I am not a mental health professional and everything I advise is what I believe might work.

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Like many, I used to think depression wasn’t a big deal. You know, just a phase that people could get over. But then, when I experienced it, I realized just how deeply it can affect you and change you completely. During the lockdown, I went through a really tough period, and I quickly lost hope. Suicidal thoughts became part of my daily life, and I was trapped. We all have different reasons and its often not a single reason, hence I won’t be sharing my reason but everything else.

Everything about my day-to-day life changed for me. My body started to react differently, I always felt mentally drained out, didn’t have the energy to even get out of bed and brush my teeth, I lost my sleep schedule completely. I was up all night, avoiding the world, and then sleeping through the day just so I wouldn’t have to face anyone or deal with responsibilities like studying. My appetite was gone, and I lost interest in everything I enjoyed. It was strange, heavy numbness all day that I just couldn’t shake. Sometimes I would throw up randomly or my chest used to feel heavy and it made it difficult to breathe.

As things got worse, I cut myself off from the world. I stopped talking to friends, deactivated my social media, and basically went dark for what felt like forever. I thought being alone was the only way to cope, but I was sinking deeper and deeper, and as a very ambitious kid, looking at myself throwing my life away made it all worse.

But then, there was a friend who noticed my behaviour at school and knew something wasn’t right. She decided to keep checking in on me, even when I kept lying, telling I was ok. At the time, I didn’t think it made any difference, but looking back, it really did. The small act of just asking how I was doing began to chip away that wall I had built around myself. Slowly, I started opening up. She didn’t try to fix me or tell me what to do, she just listened and understood, and that alone was enough to give me hope.

There is no easy way to tell this: One night, I was ready to just be done with everything. But it wasn’t easy. All night I pictured what it would do to my family and everyone who cared about me, and my responsibilities. I decided to talk to my friend, I never mentioned what I was about to do but only mentioned what I was feeling and that was the best decision I made, it saved me. After that, my friend was always there, even when I couldn’t fully explain what I was feeling. She gave me space to express myself, without judgment, and that constant support, that quiet presence, was what really started to pull me out of the darkness.

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I will not sugar coat it -It’s been over four years, and honestly, I’m still not “okay”. I still cry a lot (it is ok to cry even when you don’t know why you are crying, it is not a sign of weakness!), I have started to have anxiety attacks and still can’t sleep or eat well. I still feel depressed and lonely most of the time. I found out this is called Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD). However, I am better in most ways, I am now back to being an ambitious kid who wants to prove to the world I am “somebody”. I know it won’t be easy, not everyone will understand and don’t expect the world to be easy on you. Sometimes, healing means embracing the pain and letting it be a part of you, rather than trying to get rid of it.

I bring up PDD because so many of us go through phases where depression seems to come out of nowhere after we thought we got over it, at this point we start feeling like something’s wrong with us. We think we never got over it and maybe never will, but in reality, it’s more common than we realize. Flashbacks, feeling low again — it’s not a sign of weakness or that you have not healed. It’s part of the experience. I want you to understand that these setbacks don’t t mean you’re broken, they’re just part of a healing journey that doesn’t always move in a straight line.

Juvenile Care means a lot to me, this may sound exaggerated but is not! I was still feeling depressed and lonely when I joined college, I thought it was going to be a very difficult journey. I made a decision to join an NGO club so that I can make a difference in someone’s life. I knew my struggles were nothing compared to a lot of underprivileged people (Life is not fair and easy for everyone, there is always someone going through worse and fighting every day. This should motivate us). Joining JC has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in college. The very first day during the induction I felt so welcomed in the club. The friendships I made here made me feel happy. The few weeks we spent preparing for our college fest was one time where I was genuinely happy for the first time in 4 years. I’m telling this to show how socializing and connecting with people heal us.

I’m not going to tell you everything will be alright soon. Healing takes time — days, months, sometimes even years, but it will get better. One day, you’ll look back and be grateful that you made the choice to keep fighting.

Let’s talk about something important: drugs and alcohol. Stay away from them. They might numb the pain temporarily, but they won’t fix the root of the problem. More often than not, they take control of your emotions, leaving you frustrated and angry, and you end up directing that frustration at people you don’t mean to hurt. It only makes things worse. It’s not worth it!

Recognizing the signs of depression is crucial for providing timely help. Understanding these signs can help us offer the right kind of help and ensure that those who are struggling get the support they need.

How to Recognize the Signs of Depression:

People dealing with depression often show these signs:

• Struggling with irregular sleep patterns
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling constantly drained and lethargic
• Avoiding social interactions and isolating themselves
• Preferring to be alone
• Pretending to be fine, putting on a happy face to hide their pain (people are very good at hiding emotions)
• Sudden bursts of strong emotions, sometimes uncontrollable

How to Really Help:

• Don’t confront them directly about their mental state. If they haven’t brought it up, it’s likely because they feel uncomfortable sharing, not because they don’t trust you, but because they fear burdening you.
• Make them feel included. Let them know you’re thinking of them, whether it’s inviting them to hang out or just checking in.
• Remind them of the things they used to love, like hobbies or passions they’ve set aside. Encourage them gently.
• Avoid saying things like “Are you okay?” or “Why do you look sad?” Instead, try: “You don’t seem like yourself lately. I’m here if you ever want to talk, no judgment.”
• Keep an eye on them and ensure they’re safe. Subtle, consistent support can mean the world.

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It’s important to remember that while the road to recovery may be long, it’s not one you have to walk alone. Whether you’re the one struggling or you’re trying to help someone who is, every small step matters. Be patient with yourself, or with the person you care about, and know that change takes time. What matters most is staying in the fight, seeking help, and supporting each other. There’s always hope, and there’s always someone who cares. Together, we can make a difference.

And hey, seriously, don’t be afraid to reach out to your friends and family if you’re struggling. I’ve been there and I have hesitated a lot to talk about my problems thinking I will burden my friends or sadden the vibe. But your friends and family are always there to support you. Do not overthink just open up to someone you trust and yes, they may or may not react to it the way you want it to but it’s worth trying. Let them know what’s going on — it’s okay to lean on the people who care about you (People do!).