There have been a couple of programmes on TV talking about suicide this week. I haven’t seen them, but I’m doing a suicide training course at the moment and the subject is on my mind constantly. One of the suggestions for supporting people is to ask the question, ‘Are you okay?’ And then to repeat the question along the lines of, ‘Are you really okay?’
This week began for me with an attempted suicide by someone I’ve been supporting following their previous attempt. Additionally I’m juggling the needs of a lot of people (not feeling particularly stressed as it’s all part of the job), but there’s also a lot going on within my family.
Today my son called me and asked me how I am. I told him things about various family members and he countered by saying he wanted to know about me and if I’m okay. I told him, ‘I’m fine’ and he asked again, ‘Mum, are you really okay?’ Out of nowhere I felt my eyes fill up and suddenly I realised I’m not okay and the events of the past month or so had caught up with me.
So, I’m dealing with it now and feeling very fortunate that the training I’m doing will give me a safe space to explore my feelings, but I’m very grateful that my son was sensitive enough to ask the question and be able to deal with the response.
I know online can be the best and worst of places to explore such things, but having been set such a good example by my son I decided it was worth asking the question on here.
Are you okay?
Are you really okay?
