World Suicide Prevention Day: A Story from Darkness to Hope

The Lowest Point and the Turning Point

It marked the beginning of a period full of crisis, during which the despair only deepened. “After my overdose I was immediately admitted to crisis care. From there things only got worse. I started cutting myself more severely, self-harming more often, and began smoking. My wish not to be here anymore only grew stronger. I just wanted peace, not to feel what I was feeling. To me, death seemed the only option. Every time I went to the train tracks, all I had to do was step forward. Then it would be over, and I’d have peace.

Those suicidal thoughts were always there. I was just searching for a way – in whatever form – to finally have that peace. I knew I couldn’t go on like that, but I wasn’t strong enough to accept help. At the very moment when I thought it was truly over and I was sitting there with a farewell letter in my hand, a friend called me. That phone call saved my life, and I decided to seek help.”

Asking for Help as the First Step

The step towards treatment at Yes We Can Clinics was daunting. Isa thought she would only get rid of her dark thoughts, maintain her eating disorder, and still keep death as an escape route. But during her time in the clinic something important happened: she finally dared to speak openly about her deepest feelings. “For the first time I felt seen and taken seriously. That made the difference. It gave me the realisation that I wasn’t alone.” Yes We Can gave her a foundation to build on and focused on self-worth and believing she was good enough. She learned that difficult moments pass and that she is stronger than she thought. “I am very happy with the life I have now and I’m truly happy. I never want to make the choice again not to be here. Because even though life can be difficult and things don’t always go well, I will get through it.”

A Message of Hope

Isa still attends meetings every week – a safe, trusted environment where she can share when things feel heavy. “Sometimes I still think: fuck, life is tough and I can’t handle it. The big difference is that now I know it’s just a thought that comes and goes.” Isa wants to pass on a message to young people who are struggling with similar thoughts: “Talk about it. Take yourself seriously. You don’t have to carry it alone, no matter how hard it feels.” She also has advice for parents and loved ones: “Really listen to your child. Don’t dismiss their feelings. Offer them support, hug them, and make them feel that they matter and that you hear them. Ask what you can do for them and how you can get through.

Learning to Love Yourself

Where Isa once lived only for her family, something new has now grown: love for herself. “I’ve actually started to quite like myself – with all my insecurities and fears. That feeling, that I am allowed to be here, gives me the motivation to stay in recovery.” For Isa, World Suicide Prevention Day is an opportunity to open up the conversation. “As long as there is taboo around suicidal thoughts, people will feel alone. By talking about it, we give others hope. And we show that recovery is possible.”