For the Puritans, embracing God’s will could get dangerous
The group at the heart of American origin stories had a complex relationship with despair – and a need to reckon with it
by Alexandra M Lord
Self-harm and suicide
What to do if your picking or pulling get out of hand
Understanding the psychology behind excessive skin-picking and hair-pulling can help you resist the urges and begin to heal
by Suzanne Mouton-Odum
Dangerous things
Like the red-eyed tree frog tadpoles, my son and I fell into a new beginning
by Heather Swan
How one man saved 160 lives with an extended hand and a warm cup of tea
Directed by Alec Green and Finbar Watson
Why religious belief provides a real buffer against suicide risk
Under-recognised as a protective force against suicide, religious faith has multiple features that help to save lives
by David H Rosmarin
The violence of suicide reverberates in, and through, us all
A psychodynamic perspective on suicide can help us all reckon more honestly with the interconnectedness of psychic pain
by Kyle Boyd
Stuck in a loop of worrying thoughts? Here’s how to stop it
Dwelling on your difficulties might feel like problem-solving, but it can be pernicious. There are tools to stop the habit
by Megan L Rogers
Advance directives for mental illness raise deep ethical questions
Created by people with mental illness when they are well, self-binding directives anticipate a shift to unwell thinking
by Tania Gergel
Suicide risk and social media: is it a landmine or a lifeline?
Analysing the specific experiences, not just overall usage, is key to understanding the risks and benefits of social media
by Jacqueline Nesi
When all looks bleak, hopebuilding strategies offer a lifeline
Hopelessness is a major link in the chain that leads to suicide. Strategies to nurture hope are key in the prevention toolkit
by Kathryn Gordon
How to support someone who is self-harming
A person harming themselves is not attention-seeking but attention-needing. Reach in and show them you’re listening
by Rory O’Connor & Ellen Townsend
Suicide in Medieval England was not simply a crime or sin
Like the slow engraving of an imprint on stone: compassion and care for those struggling with suicide in medieval England
by Rebecca F McNamara
What working in emergency care taught me about suicide risk
Most who die by suicide were considered to be at low or no risk. We need a new framework for understanding the dangers
by Gavin Tucker
How to talk to a suicidal friend
Twice as many people worldwide die from suicide as from homicide. Here’s how to help your loved ones back from the brink
by Lindsay Weisner
Into the unknown, together
Six months into working a suicide helpline, I became a better conversationalist — and friend
by Natalia Dashan
Why poor sleep can lead to self-harm and suicide at university
Late nights plus exam pressure equals poor sleep. Is that why university students face higher risks of suicide and self-harm?
by Kirsten Russell & Donna Littlewood