The Pinnacle Center contributes to the mission of the Maryland Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. All people must know that in most cases, suicide is an impulsive act of desperation when the person believes there is no other way to end their emotional distress, rather than believing that with time, all things can get better and the distress will subside especially if emotional resources are available.
Many, many people have thoughts of suicide during their lives. There are “levels” of these from very passive thoughts (e.g., It would be better if I wasn’t around), to more active thoughts about methods to carry it out, and then very intentional thoughts with methods as well as planning. Anyone who is thinking about suicide at the highest level will benefit from immediate support in order to stay safe by calling 911 or visiting their nearest emergency room.
People at the lower two levels can benefit from official support services, suicide hotlines, as well as merely the involvement of a trusted person - someone to share the pain and ensure safety.
