Lifeline Booklet 2021

Recognise

signs and behaviour

CRISIS AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

• A crisis can be triggered by any: form of abuse (emotional, physical, or sexual; past or present) • Significant loss (the death of a loved one) • Relationship breakdown • Living in remote areas or in social isolation • Mental illness with negative self-talk • Previous suicide attempts or deliberate self-harm • Exposure to suicidal behaviour in others (particularly another completed suicide) • Parental separation or divorce • Drug or alcohol abuse • Homelessness • Failing subjects at school or dropping out of courses • Bullying • Legal or court action • Financial crises (job loss, drought, bankruptcy) .4

WHAT IS A CRISIS? A crisis is a subjective event and can be different things for different people. A crisis usually leads to a unique reaction - one person may be extremely affected by an event - someone else experiencing the same event may experience little or no negative effects. The problem with mental illness is that the symptoms are not always visible like a broken arm or other physical ailment. You cannot see someone’s internal struggles.

4 https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/resource/why-people-become-suicidal/

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Lifeline Northern Beaches