When you want support through something scary or rough, and help pulling yourself together and getting through, this is the place.
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We ask that users looking for general, ongoing emotional support post in this area of the boards, and that you use this space to both ask for, give and receive that support primarily from each other, rather than from our staff and volunteers. As a staff, we simply are often too overextended with all we need to do in running the organization and its services to do that for extended periods of time, and one of our main aims of our community at the boards has always been to facilitate peers to better be there for each other.
Users often report that they have no in-person peers they can talk to or seek support from: we want this to be a space for online peer support and somewhere everyone can get some practice asking for, getting and giving support so that doing it with people in your lives feels more doable.
Please remember that neither staff, volunteers nor your fellow users can provide or replace mental healthcare when that is something you need. Users struggling with issues like anxiety, depression, abuse or physical health issues are strongly encouraged to seek out qualified, in-person help with those issues in addition to peer or staff support.
I was at work ( I’m a care assistant) and someone died whilst I was looking after them. It has brought up a lot of memories because my grandad has only recently passed away, it’s causing me to have suicidal and self harm thoughts. I don’t want to harm myself but I don’t have any other choice I’m really struggling
That sounds like an absolutely gut-wrenching thing to experience, and I'm so sorry you're dealing with grief from losing a loved one on top of the grief you feel from witnessing someone under your care pass away.
Before we address anything else, your safety is the top priority. So, if you think you're at risk of harming yourself to cope with this, my first ask is that you reach out to a hotline or other resource designed specifically to help with that. Here are several options: https://findahelpline.com/gb-eng/sth. Can you reach out to one of those and then come back to us after you get support there?
No need to apologize! You're more than welcome to come back and get support here as well, I just wanted to make sure we prioritized getting you the kind of support that was most urgent in this moment <3
If at any time how you're feeling changes and you need some extra support around this death, I'm happy to talk with you. I'm someone who has experienced a lot of death, and supported many people in it, and I'm also in death doula training. <3
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead
If at any time how you're feeling changes and you need some extra support around this death, I'm happy to talk with you. I'm someone who has experienced a lot of death, and supported many people in it, and I'm also in death doula training. <3
Hi heather,
Losing him has really gotten to me, like I know how sad my dad is, which makes this situation even worse. I just wish he was still alive . I’d love to have someone to talk to