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⚠️ The PAUSE website has been migrated to pauseint.org ⚠️

“We know that there are so many things, in addition to ‘mental illness,’ that can contribute to the pain that drives suicidal thoughts, feelings, intentions and actions. We know that  when this pain feels unmanageable, unavoidable and unescapable, suicide can feel like the only way to end one’s suffering. We also know that ’treatment as usual’ for suicidal people, particularly involuntary hospitalization, often falls short and can actually be harmful! 

Can we see and do things differently? Can we widen our lens to understand how identity, social, cultural and even political factors may contribute to suicidal despair? Can we listen compassionately to the stories of suicidal people, and try understand both how this pain, and the desire to escape it could seem justified from their perspectives? Can we do this without rushing to restrict their freedom and autonomy when they tell us? Could we then collaborate with them to help reduce the pain and make life more bearable, more worthwhile? And when we aren’t able to help, how can we best support those left behind? Can we value the voices of those with lived experience and expertise in both suicidality and loss to help all of us understand what helps and what doesn’t?

We invite you to PAUSE.”