Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating healthy meals regularly, and doing things you find relaxing (such as going for a walk, meditation, listening to music, etc.).
You don’t have to feel guilty for not being able to give all your time to support your loved one. You need to take care of your needs as well. Look for ways to include activities you enjoy in your daily life.
Stay connected:
Catch up regularly with friends, family, and other loved ones. Engage in activities that help you stay connected to others and make you feel loved.
Set boundaries:
Be clear about what support you can provide and for how long. If it starts to feel overwhelming, you could seek support from other people in the person’s support network.
Be kind to yourself:
Sometimes, despite doing our best or providing support, a person’s condition may not improve or they may even die by suicide. In such situations one may feel guilty or blame themselves. There is no right or wrong way to feel, but it is important to not blame oneself for what is happening. Remember, you are not responsible for a person’s life or their decisions.
Talk about your feelings:
It may help to talk about your feelings with a health professional (doctor, counselor, therapist) and work out ways to move forward. You can also join a peer support group and connect with others who have similar experiences.
The peer supporter was very supportive and reassured me exactly how I wanted to be
reassured.
Outlive chat support seeker
She helped me out; she is a good one who supported me when I was feeling lonely. Now I
am feeling good because of that peer, thanks to this platform!
Outlive chat Support seeker
The volunteering brought a sense of purpose and despite the limited people I could help
through the platform, I know the learnings will remain for life. I try to utilize them in my
everyday conversations and focus on my own well-being through self-care.
Outlive peer supporter (volunteering feedback)
For me it was an eye-opener about how mental health is connected to suicide.
Outlive YASP Fellow
The workshops were engaging, and the team was very open. I got to learn alot from the
other mentors and the collaborative process really added to the learning. The workshops
provided structure and a lot of clarity for the project and the expectations and now I am
eager to take this forward.
Outlive peer supporter (training feedback)
This program helped me to look past the preconceived notions and misinformation
regarding suicide prevention and gain an evidence-based understanding of the struggles and
factors affecting suicide especially in young adults. The facilitators were very
knowledgeable and created a safe space for the supporters to ask questions and resolve
doubts. The in-depth approach really helped me imbibe the training given and use it
effectively
Outlive peer supporter (training feedback)
I learnt how to be more empathetic and also got a real picture of how events can affect
individuals. It's hard to accept when one hasn't experienced similar events, but the impact
can be detrimental, and in those times it's important to reach out to a safe space. Outlive
does that.
Outlive peer supporter (volunteering feedback)
Made me very independent and direct - confident - we were able to highlight the points that
we wanted implemented. YASP gave us this empowerment to do it as youth - empowered us
to speak in front of these policymakers.
