If you’re not familiar with World Suicide Prevention Day, you can learn more here:
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-suicide-prevention-day/2026
I’ve written about my own experience with suicidal thoughts, and even an attempt during the worst of my mental health struggles, but I also want to talk about the fact that often, it isn’t about depression or trauma; it’s simply the absence of hope.
Thank you for reading the Child Abuse and Mental Health Survivors newsletter. Each week, I share new blog posts and other resources that aim to help survivors of childhood abuse and those who are struggling with mental health issues feel less alone as we discuss the issues surrounding them.
For more information about me and why this newsletter exists, visit the website Child Abuse Survivor.
We often think of suicide prevention as the availability of mental health resources, and in some cases that is true. It is also a number of other things:
Not living in poverty
Being able to escape abuse
Having proper medical care for chronic illness
Food security
Acceptance
Safety
Belonging
When I was struggling, yes, it was the depression, but above and beyond that, it was the absence of hope. It was the reality of being alone in my depression with no belief that it could get better or that anyone would help me. It was also not having a home, not knowing when I would eat again, not knowing that anyone cared that I was missing, and not being safe. My life was untenable then. Ending it actually made a weird kind of sense.
In my case, people cared and wanted to help. I was wrong about that, and I’m still here, safe and not living in poverty or dealing with abuse. Many people's stories don’t end the same way. I believe it’s because there was no hope, and that lack of hope isn’t always about depression. In 2026, people are losing hope in many ways that have nothing to do with depression, and we should have some honest conversations about how much harm is being done when we take hope away from people.
New from the Blogs
I'm not sure what the solution to this is. I imagine it is likely some combination of better healthcare resources, better communities, recognizing the need to support caretakers at home and work, etc. What I do know is that romanticizing it won't solve anything. Talking about how Dolly wanted to be with her husband does a disservice to what happened while she was caring for him, and to all the people out there caring for a loved one without nearly the resources she had. They deserve better than platitudes; they deserve real support.
Related - Gen X employees say they are burned out from caregiving responsibilities
Sharing - Why Trauma Survivors Often Don’t Ask for Help Until It’s Almost Too Late
It’s one thing to encourage trauma survivors to ask for help. It’s quite another to make sure the help available to them won’t make things worse. There are too many unsafe people in this world who would mock, dismiss, or retraumatize survivors. So long as those experiences keep repeating themselves, there is no wonder that survivors don’t ask for help until it’s the absolute last resort. That’s exactly what happened to me, too. I didn’t ask for help; I just kept getting worse until I had no choice but to get help.
That shouldn’t have been necessary.
Worth Reading - Rest Is Part of the Work: Why Recovery Can’t Be Something We Earn
The human body and brain work best when rest and recovery are part of the schedule. It really is that simple. When we constantly try to "earn" the right to rest, we do a disservice to ourselves. It is part of us.
Sharing - Why Trauma Returns Through Sex
Because of this stigma, articles like the one above become rare and important reads. The stories shared in it might feel familiar to you as you read them, or they may help you understand what many survivors of sexual abuse deal with in their lives. When you've been sexually abused, sex and arousal can become very complicated things. That complication shouldn't come with judgment, but we know that it too often does. The judgment doesn't help anyone heal; in fact, it likely does even more harm.
Shared from Elsewhere
I felt every word of this headline. The rest of the article is good, too:
“What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger” and Other Stupid Crap People Tell Trauma Survivors
Your almost biweekly reminder about social interactions, and not just because my introverted self needs the reminder - Talk To A Stranger—It’s Good For You. Oddly enough, I spent last week at a professional conference for legal technology, and talked to a bunch of strangers. It was tiring, but did really lift my mental health.
Similarly- Why We Avoid the Conversations That Would Make Us Happier
Research shows we underestimate how much other people want to connect.
This was from New Orleans. I don’t think it’s an outlier. - Survey: 1 in 4 Kids Who Needed Mental Health Help Didn’t Get It
This can be a struggle for many survivors, even though I could also argue that the act of surviving what we’ve been through should be proof that you can do it - Do You Believe in Yourself?
Making a Difference:
Duncan Robinson hosts ‘Hoops for Healing’ to benefit mental health resources in NH
Lightning’s Victor Hedman discusses mental health: ‘It is OK not to be OK’
Thanks for reading. If you find this newsletter informative and helpful, please share it with others. That’s the best way to express gratitude for my weekly efforts.