Are you or know someone who is struggling?
Look to the person to your right, look to the person to your left. Have you ever wondered if they need someone to talk to?
As a foreigner from the United States, I have noticed a huge culture change once I arrived in Japan. I began to question if people are happy with their lives or if they are just tired. Therefore, I did some investigation on Japanese health and according to Japan Times, Japan is the sixth highest suicide rate in the world and second worst among eight major industrialized nations.
I was surprised by this statistic, considering I have met some of the most energetic and friendliest people in Japan. However, some of the most common issues addressed in lifelines are loneliness, anxiety, work-related issues, and depression. Mental health has been an experience that many are going or have gone through. Although people may have not been taught or refused to be taught about internal and external mental health interventions, suicide rates could be with everyone’s involvement. As a parent, teacher, entrepreneur, business owner, and family member we can be informed about some warning signs preventing internal harm.
Warning signs someone may be having suicide thoughts
Photo by energepic.com
Unlike a physical illness, it is not so obvious to tell how much help a person could be needing while experimenting an internal struggle. However, we can rely on different signs that may help us to find out if a loved one or a person from our environment could use our help:
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
Talking about being a burden to others.
Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
Sleeping too little or too much.
Withdrawn or feeling isolated.
Signs of depression, such as moodiness, hopelessness, withdrawal
Hinting at not being around in the future or saying good-bye
You can read about more signs here.
Main take-aways
Photo by Liam Anderson
Weather you are struggling with an issue or know someone who might be struggling, here are some helpful tips:
Remember to ask and receive help when needed, people around you care so much about you to help you through anything and vice versa, if you care about someone, don’t let them be alone.
Find ways to maintain self-care this can be by painting, playing an instrument, doing yoga, or picking on new hobbies. Taking at least 10 mins of your day on this could start making a difference.
Consider having a journal to write your thoughts down.
Next time don’t be afraid to have a small conversation with someone you don’t know, you just might make their day :)
For more information on how to help a loved one, visit Lifeline.
Starting something new could also be of a great help when dealing with grief. If you are starting a new project and need support from other like-minded people, we would love to welcome you at our Mastermind Group. By joining this consulting experience, you can receive peer-to-peer feedback on your project. You don’t have to start alone, share your journey with us.
About the Author
Lucero is an undergraduate student studying Communications at the University of California, Davis. Through her work as an Operations and Event Planning Intern at Startup Lady, she has learned a lot and enjoyed her time with amazing entrepreneurial women. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, listening to music, traveling, and meeting new people!