When Suicide Is A Crime – Seeking Help In Difficult Times (includes Podcast version)

Overcoming Challenges: Dealing with Suicide in Criminalized Countries

 

I'm excited because Malaysia is decriminalizing suicide.

 

 

Click to hear the podcast version

 

I live in Malaysia, and up until now, dealing with suicide was tricky.

We had an old law, left over from colonial times I think, that criminalised suicide.

Malaysians are compassionate. In a crisis, most police, doctors and medical staff would help and not say a word.

But there were exceptions. Every now and again, suicide survivors rescued by their family and friends would be arrested, hauled up in court and fined.

 

Between 2014 and 2018, 11% of those facing suicide were arrested and taken to court. Penalties included fined and up to a year in jail.

There would always be protests about this. And thankfully, increasing outcry pushed politicians to finally change that law.

It's not quite a done deal yet, but ever since the process started, there has been a change in how emergencies are managed.

It's wonderful!

 

Seeking Therapy in Criminalized Countries

Sadly, many of my clients live in countries where suiciding remains a criminal act. When seeking therapy, this poses some problems.

So I'd like to discuss these a bit further and describe an approach that my clients and I use.

I have two aims here.

First, if you're stuck in this situation, I'm hoping that this will help you reach out more safely.

Second, if you are supporting a friend or loved one, this may be useful to you.

There is always help

About Penalties for Suicide

Okay, so first thing is to know that in places where suicide is a crime, penalties vary.

Typically, courts impose fines and jail sentences. Some countries add flogging.

You might lose your job, have your kids taken away, or be divorced. The social stigma is huge.

In corrupt countries, a suicidal episode can also result in the police and other authorities demanding bribes.

Also, although it's not talked about much, abusive family members will use an incident in order to extort money or exert emotional blackmail.

About Barriers

As a result, people who are suicidal are too frightened to say so. They worry that asking for help will invite disaster.

This fear creates a considerable barrier. Sometimes, even close loved ones don't realise when someone is in trouble.

Second, being proactive and looking for help before you get to a crisis stage can be tricky.

Not all therapists take on suicidal clients. It's intensive work, risky, and so it's not everyone that's up for it.

And in countries where a crisis invites legal troubles, it's even harder to find someone who will take you on.

So, is it all doom and gloom? No. Absolutely not!

Sourcing Support

Finding support is perfectly possible, but it takes a bit of prep.

First, the law is an ass but there are many people who very quietly stick up two fingers to nasty rules.

You are never alone!

However, the key to finding your way is to be accountable.

You cannot throw the burden of care on to others. You are an adult and that means being responsible for yourself.

This is a challenge, especially when you're down, but it is essential. Make it a core principle.

Once you have that fixed in your mind, look for a mental health professional who can help provide support.

The most likely candidates are those who deal principally with depression and trauma.

Also, it's worth trying people who are LGBTQ affirming. I say this because many of the countries that criminalize suicide, also criminalize nonheterosexuality.

Second, before you start, ask about privacy. Specifically, ask who has access to your notes.

You don't want a fabulous therapist who then shares your notes with their boss, their staff, or a database that can be accessed by others.

Stay Safe! Safety Plan

Third, kick off therapy by deciding how you will deal with emergencies.

When you're upset, it's hard to think straight. A safety plan covers all the steps you should follow in a crisis.

• Start with noting down what you have done in the past that helped.
• Then ask, what exercises from sessions are helpful?
• What will you tell yourself as alternatives to the dark thoughts?
• What would you say to a close friend who was feeling this way?
• What could others do that would help?
• Who can you call? At this point, you list three trusted people you can reach out to.
• What is a safe place you can go to?
• And if you still feel suicidal and out of control, do you know a discreet doctor? Or perhaps there is a clinic that will quietly help you out? Write down the contact details.

You may want to rehearse a short cover story. For example, I am upset at a breakup. I would never hurt myself because that would be illegal but I am VERY UPSET.

Plan for a friend or relative you trust to come with you for this.

With a safety plan to back you up, enter counselling. Hopefully, you can get into a happier place.

Some Final Thoughts

Please know that you are not alone. There are millions of people who face suicide.

It is never easy. In films, they go to a hospital where there are trained staff to look after them.

They make it look so simple. So available.

In truth, there may be some rich big cities that have that service, but in most of the world, it simply isn't available.

It takes a dedicated ward and several shifts of trained staff to work 24/7. That's expensive! Most countries just don't have the resources.

Most people who are troubled, lean on friends and family to help them through rough times.

Life can be very difficult and silly laws can make it harder, but you can do this.

So make your list and reach out. 

Photo Credit: Image by Mohamad Hassan on Pixabay

Love Burns Out: What to Do When Your Parents Don't Like You

 

This feels odd to write about, although it's not exactly a secret. I am sharing some personal history and thoughts that might be useful if you struggle with family relationships.

I am an oops baby. In the 60s, premarital sex was considered a sin, and people who were caught in a pregnancy "did the right thing."

My parents married because they got pregnant with me. They said they loved me, but they made it clear, loudly and often, that they would not have tied the knot if they had a choice.

In childhood, I felt guilty. I also felt responsible.

My parents didn't do this on purpose. They thought treating kids like adults was empowering. Messed up, right? But that was a different time. Back then people didn't know a lot about mental health.

As it was, my parents worked hard. We had excellent schools, birthday parties, and books galore. Everything we needed and more.

But they were not a good match. They had different needs, values, cultures, and languages. Over time, they became angry and deeply resentful. They drank too much.

My mum would work herself into a rage and say the most awful nasty things she could think of.  A barrage of emotional abuse. My dad would shrug and act the martyr. The next day, they'd pretend nothing had happened.

I tried to talk about it. It did no good. My dad would moan and complain he was only there for the good of the family. My mum used rage, cold silence, and denial.  

When I was younger this went on behind closed doors. By my late teens, this went on in public too. 
 

I built my own life and moved away. Back then, people didn't talk about low contact, but that's what it was.

In the late 90s, my parents' marriage imploded. There was lots of drama.

My father went off with a mistress. That's a whole other story that I won't get into. My mother and I started talking.

It was tricky; she would blow up often, but we got to know each other better.

By the time my father died, my mum and I were talking several times a week. I visited regularly.

But the last year or so has been difficult. The rage came back. And the silent treatment.

When I visited last summer, I walked on eggshells. I worried about her health, especially dementia, but her memory is fine, and she knows what she's doing. She has regular excellent medical care. This time, it's not booze.

In January, she instigated a fight, not with me, but with someone else. Then she screamed at me.

It took me straight back to the awful years where she'd rip me to shreds and I had no choice but to take it. This time I told her I would no longer accept this. She cut me off.

Four months of silent treatment, but on her birthday, she picked up the phone and acted as if nothing had happened.

I didn't want to call again. But family, you know?

When I rang a week later, I got a tirade of abuse. She told me I was to stay out of her life forever. This time I just said, "OK."

So, where's the message?
I'm fine. Actually, better than fine. I have good friends, I'm married to my best friend, and I have a thriving business. I am very happy with my life.

If you're from a difficult family, you can be happy too. Here are some thoughts.

Families are messy

Many people are stuck in relationships they don't want, with kids they didn't want either. It sours them. They take out their anger on everyone around them.

Kids take it when they're small, they have no choice, but they leave when they're adult.

In Malaysia, 1 out of 3 older people are not supported by or are abandoned by their kids. (read here and here). In the UK, 1 out of 5 families are affected by estrangement. (read here) In the USA, it's 1 family in 4. (read here)

Being disliked or resented by your parents and deciding you want some distance is common.

You can build a happy life for yourself

Learn a skill, earn money, and move out. You need not go far. Just have your own life with people who love you.

There is no formula

Life is rarely black and white, and there are seldom easy choices. There are no rules and no simple fixes.

Most of us with difficult families go through times when we connect and times when we don't. And that's okay.

You will have regrets

Kids yearn for their parents to love them. When that love is not there, or conditional, or coloured by resentment, most of us bend over backwards, hoping to fix our relationships.

Some of the things we do work. Some of them hurt or cost us, but we're willing to pay the price. And sometimes we look back and say, "doh!"

I don't regret trying to connect, but I do regret those annual visits. I wish I'd spent that time with people who love me.

Love burns out

Once you've been through a few abuse cycles, emotions change. The sadness, anger, and other feelings are overwhelming when you're young. But as you mature, they fade. Eventually, you stop caring.

It's a form of self-protection. Why embrace people who hurt you repeatedly?

So if you're worried about this, please know it's a common reaction.

Estrangement is not always permanent

We tend to think in absolutes. While estrangement can be permanent, it can also be temporary, lasting months or years.

 

I don't plan to reach out. But I'm not saying never. I'm moving country this year, and so I'm busy.

For now I'm okay with zero contact for the foreseeable future.

People will judge

Those from happy families won't get it. They have no idea what it's like to grow up with toxic parents.

There will also be people who know they are a problem in their own families and who seek to normalize abuse.

When you feel judged, maybe you want to engage. Or maybe not.

I suggest this: other people aren't living your life. You are! Think and do what suits you best.

I should also mention silence, but that's for the next post. This one is long enough!

Get help

Back in the 80s and 90s, abuse and estrangement were taboo. The first book I ever read about it blew me away and gave me hope: "Toxic Parents" by Susan Forward.  

There are lots of insightful helpful books out there these days.

I suggest you read widely, lean in with friends, and use therapy as a safe space to sort out an approach that works for you.

It worked for me.

If you want some support, you know how to find me.

Image by John Hain on Pixabay

Have Depression And Think You Shouldn't Be In A Relationship? Check Out Ethical Depression (includes podcast link)

"I can't have a relationship because I have regular periods of depression. It's not fair to others."

I hear this sentiment often. I don't agree with it, and here's why.

To listen to the podcast version, click play

Tax and accounts professionals work crazy hours every April and December. Should they swear off relationships?
Academics who take PhDs are unbearable - for more than a year! Should they exit all relationships before starting?
Doctors, lawyers, police, nurses, and other professionals disappear at the oddest times to deal with emergencies, and they typically work extra over holidays. Should they stay single?

Of course they should not. And neither should you.

Depression Fuels Negative Thinking

Don't listen to the depression dementors

Depression is a mental health issue because it affects perception. Typically, depression removes the joy from life and focuses on the negative.

Depression is like living with Dementors.

So while the sentiment appears to come from care, I think the idea that you have to go through life alone and without the joys of partnership is really depression talking.

Depression is sneaky. It whispers that you're no good, can't be good, won't be good, don't deserve happiness. 

It's nasty, and it's insidious. Don't listen to it.

Bet you're thinking that living with depression is still a challenge. You'd be right. So here's an idea for you: ethical depression.

Being Ethical About Depression = Practical Depression Management

Planning for when your dips hit helps you through periods of depression. If you work up a system, you can navigate the worst of it, reducing the burden on you and your loved ones.

To help yourself, you need to do some prep.

• Know your patterns
• Know your triggers
• Know what self-care routine you need to maintain your best health
• Map out your support network
• Have a detailed plan for managing your dips
• Set up rules of thumb that help you identify an emergency
• Have an emergency plan

Basically, this is all the stuff you will have put together with your therapist.

With the basics in place, you need to add two things:

Be responsible for your behaviour. Depression is a mental health issue but as adults we are responsible for our actions.

So, if you're angry when you're dipping, learn new behaviour. If you know there are periods when medication helps, figure that when/what/how and do it.
 
Communicate with your partner. Loving partners often hope to manage our troubles for us, which is simply not possible. So you'll need to have a series of conversations.

This is tricky because a) each episode of depression will be slightly different, b) your circumstances change over time, and c) it takes time and experience to discover what your partner is happy to do, and d) your partner's situation will change too.

Example: at 20, if you're at university and sharing a flat with roomies, managing depression differs completely from when you're 38, managing a team, and parenting a kid or furries.

Then, when you're 60, and retiring from a career and coming to terms with being older, periods of depression can really hit your identity and relationships, and managing it is different again.

Talk and Keep Talking

If you treat your depression like a business client who needs to be managed, you'll find it easier to deal with.

Know what you need, and discuss your thoughts and needs with your partner regularly. Do this while you're in a good space for maximum effect.

After every dip, have a post-mortem and update your thoughts on what's going on, and see if you need to make any changes.

Summary

You deserve love and companionship

Depression can be a bugger to deal with, especially if you have deep dips, but don't let it define you. Nobody is perfect. Everyone has issues. So go get out there, and be happy.

PS, should you need help, hire me! I'm sensible, practical, very private and affordable. Also, I work online internationally.

Photo credit:
Love, by John Hain from Pixabay

A Dementor, pic courtesy of Karen Roe from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK