Sexuality, wellness, eating disorders, and mental health—over the past eight years, I’ve penned numerous sensitive articles that have aided my healing journey through life’s complexities. However, one topic that resonates deeply with me is suicide. As a two-time survivor, I feel compelled to share a message of hope, emphasizing that help is available and that there is a life beyond despair. Yet, every time I broach the subject of “suicide,” my narrative is silenced. My journey only begins after a notice like “this article includes references to suicide” or “the following contains a discussion about suicide; discretion is advised”—and I am fed up with this endless battle. The only path to raising awareness and dismantling the stigma around suicide is to discuss it openly and honestly.
For people to truly care, there must be a name and a story attached.
Trigger warnings are brief statements placed at the beginning of articles or video content, intended to shield individuals who might have a strong emotional reaction to certain topics, as explained in an article on Geek Feminist Wiki. While these warnings aim to protect those with intense emotional responses, they have become so commonplace that they feel overused and ineffective. They render the subject matter taboo and hinder vital conversations, which are essential for suicide prevention.
Discussing suicide is the sole way to combat it. It is how we can connect with those in pain and genuinely extend help.
You might wonder why I care so much. After all, this doesn’t have to be my fight. But it does matter. Millions are affected by suicide each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019, 12 million American adults contemplated suicide, 3.5 million made plans, and 1.4 million attempted it, with 47,500 lives lost to suicide each year. When I awoke on “the other side”—when I opened my eyes and filled my lungs with air—I felt an urgency to talk about suicide. I needed to share my story and let others know that help and hope exist.
Moreover, trigger warnings extend beyond suicide prevention articles; they can gatekeep content and render certain subjects forbidden. This can adversely affect those who have survived similar traumas.
Research from a 2019 study published in Clinical Psychological Science suggests that trigger warnings may do more harm than good. They don’t shield individuals from pain, but can actually exacerbate suffering for those with past trauma. Additionally, Richard J. McNally, a Harvard University professor, noted in a 2016 New York Times article that trigger warnings can be “countertherapeutic” as they encourage avoidance of trauma reminders, perpetuating PTSD.
I don’t believe all trigger warnings are inherently bad. If I share the details of my experience, for example, it should come with a warning. Graphic depictions of suicide can indeed be harmful. Articles with sudden shifts in topic, like discussing childhood birthdays followed by sexual abuse, warrant a heads-up. As writer Amy Turner notes, there are advantages to trigger warnings—providing individuals with a ‘trigger warning’ is a way to prepare them to protect themselves if needed. And yes, some people genuinely need that.
However, I’m exhausted by the attempts to silence this topic, as if suicide doesn’t matter. I’m tired of the ignorance and the refusal to confront difficult subjects. I am weary of being told my narrative is too shocking or that I am too unseemly to share in this space. This is one of the implicit messages that trigger warnings send; they imply that survivors should remain silent about their tragedies.
While I acknowledge there is still a place for trigger warnings, it’s time we reconsider how we use them. To heal as a community and confront life’s challenges, we must be willing to talk about them.
For more insights on similar topics, check out this article on stereotypes. Additionally, you might find valuable information on this authority site. For excellent resources on pregnancy and home insemination, visit this link.
Search Queries:
- Home insemination methods
- Understanding trigger warnings
- Mental health and trauma
- Suicide prevention strategies
- Coping with past trauma
In summary, while trigger warnings may serve a purpose in some contexts, they often do more harm than good, particularly regarding sensitive subjects like suicide. It’s crucial that we engage in open conversations about these topics to foster understanding, healing, and hope.