I had considered writing something about Suicide Prevention Day as it approached, but then we also found out that Francine is approaching as well, and my attention has been on hurricane prep instead of writing for the blog.
As I sit here early in the evening, though, it occurs to me that my focus on working and also preparing for the storm is a metaphor for suicide prevention. Consider:
You have to prepare for the worst and make all of your plans before the storm arrives. Once the storm is on you, stocking up on water, charging your electronics, figuring out your escape route, etc., is impossible. It’s too late.
We did all those things 24-72 hours before the storm, which should make landfall sometime tomorrow. We’ve got our water stock and have everything on chargers, batteries, and flashlights ready. Our cars are full of gas, cash is on hand, and ice is getting picked up now.
If/when the power goes out tomorrow, we’ve got the necessities and a pretty good idea of where we will head on Thursday if it appears we’ll be without power for a few days.
Similarly, we don’t wait until someone is in a mental health crisis to figure out how to keep them alive. Plan. Know who to call, where to go, and what activities help you in crisis. Let the people in your life know the plan so they know what to do.
Please don’t wait until the storm is on you to figure out how you will ride it out. Find your local resource, connect with your support network, and know what self-care works best for you. Follow the plan, and make sure it’s flexible enough to adjust on the fly if something changes. It’s the smart thing to do.