Self-harm and suicide
![A man stands next to a painting of Jesus carrying the cross, with reflections visible on a glass surface beside him.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/551ccfdd-3a1f-4c0c-9502-b8b190be899b/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Self-harm and suicide
idea
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
![Hands holding a vintage wristwatch with a white face, black numerals, and a mesh metal strap against a dark background.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/549ad2a9-2b97-429c-8103-d89ef187eb09/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Self-harm and suicide
idea
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
![Abstract illustration of two people hugging while sitting by a window with gentle light coming through.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/cd54396b-98fa-4913-982e-5bf76c35214d/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Self-harm and suicide
guide
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
![Illustration of a person in a purple shirt sitting at a table with a yellow mug, receiving a supportive hand on theirs.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/38a95c3f-210c-4005-b11f-511806444a8b/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Compassion and empathy
film
How one man saved 160 lives with an extended hand and a warm cup of tea
Directed by Alec Green and Finbar Watson
![Close-up of a person with glasses looking out of a window with sunlight illuminating their face and hair from the side.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/1ce22207-0345-4e46-ba78-ff6379c3ec53/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Worry and rumination
idea
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
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Law and mental health
idea
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
![Photo of two people hugging on a grassy hill, one in an orange jacket and the other in a yellow sweater, with mountains in the background.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/3fbf2ff1-d056-479a-b8af-795686309a4c/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Self-harm and suicide
guide
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
![Close-up of a person holding their face with their hands while looking at a mobile phone, illuminated by moody blue and red lighting.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/cfeff6cd-f4a8-4088-8bc3-5fced02589cc/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Self-harm and suicide
idea
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
![Two people sit in a grassy field, seen from behind: a white man with white hair and beard, and a Black man in a patterned shirt and hat.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/0aff1e88-c333-4d4f-9f6f-27bc0b54e7f5/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Self-harm and suicide
idea
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