Suicide Counseling

In college I volunteered for Suicide Counseling. One of the reasons I did this was because I was dealing with suicide issues myself. I had left the religion I was raised in and friends all around the world in this church. I was just too progressive and 1960s for this Christian religion at that time for them to allow me to stay. So, from about 1969 to 1973 I was fighting to try to stay alive when what I wanted most was to be gone.

So, if you are dealing with all of this when you choose to be a suicide counseling volunteer, just realize this is but one more layer of stuff you are going to have to deal with.

For example, you cannot be idealistic enough to expect you are going to be able to save everyone. Even though it is true that people don't seek out suicide counselors unless they are trying to stay alive.

If people are serious about suicide they are just going to do it and that's all.

But, even those who contact you for counseling might have a difficult day and check out.

The primary times people get suicidal are from ages 10 or 12 to 30 and whenever a loved one dies, or when a "love of your life" leaves you in divorce or breakup. Though there are also people who are terminal patients also dealing with whether to continue living through a lot of pain and expense too.

But, the most important thing if you are dealing with suicidal issues yourself is: "Is this going to help you if you form a bond to someone on the phone and then they off themselves? In other words, how strong a person are you?

Can you stay alive if someone buys the farm on your watch? Can you move forward without blaming yourself the rest of your life for their death?

These are really important questions for any suicide counselor to ask themselves. Because we do not live in a perfect world where everyone is savable. Better said, we do not live in a world where everyone can be kept alive at this point.