![\"Dave](\"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Dave-Navarro-Message-About-Suicide.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Thoughts of suicide can be overwhelming, scary or even leave you feeling hopeless. If you\u2019re a survivor of abuse such as domestic violence, gun violence or sexual assault, your traumatic experience may make you feel overwhelmed. Trauma responses can make you feel, think, or react in ways that feel out of your control. This can include thoughts of suicide. Please know that there is help available.<\/p>\n
In honor of World Suicide Prevention Day, we are sharing some important words from our friend and #PutTheNailinIt<\/a><\/span> ambassador Dave Navarro<\/a><\/span> who has struggled with suicidal thoughts. He is a trauma survivor himself, losing his mother to domestic violence when he was a teenager<\/a>. We share his statement as a reminder that help is available and there are people who care about your well-being, and that it is possible to heal and move past the darkness you may be feeling today.<\/p>\n Read Dave Navarro\u2019s statement below:<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t speak to anyone else\u2019s thoughts or actions but I can speak from my own experience. I have been there, written \u201cthe note\u201d, had the plan, the stockpile of meds, how to disperse my property among my family. I was ready to go. Luckily, as a last ditched effort, I reached out. I spoke to my closest friends and loved ones. I sought therapy and at times, psychiatry, alternative medicines, even hospitalization. Whatever it took. What I learned is that through the process, circumstances and feelings shift. As the tide comes in and rolls out, the universe takes many shapes and constantly evolves. We are made of the same stuff. We are constantly changing and evolving and flowing… sometimes scary, sometimes beautiful, sometimes lonely, sometimes supported. Hang in there to allow the process and the shapes to change. I can tell you 100% that they do. Please reach out if you find yourself in the darkness. There is no darkness without light. Try to be willing to let it find you.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Read Dave Navarro\u2019s statement on Instagram.<\/a><\/p>\n As a trauma survivor, Dave Navarro has struggled with suicidal thoughts. In honor of World Suicide Prevention Day, Dave shares his story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":{"id":6264,"alt_text":"Dave Navarro Message About Suicide","caption":"","description":"","media_type":"image","media_details":{"width":760,"height":428,"file":"2018\/09\/Dave-Navarro-Message-About-Suicide.jpg","sizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"Dave-Navarro-Message-About-Suicide-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Dave-Navarro-Message-About-Suicide-150x150.jpg"},"medium":{"file":"Dave-Navarro-Message-About-Suicide-300x169.jpg","width":300,"height":169,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Dave-Navarro-Message-About-Suicide-300x169.jpg"}},"image_meta":{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0","keywords":[]}},"post":6263,"source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Dave-Navarro-Message-About-Suicide.jpg"},"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[675,1007,775,1009],"class_list":["post-6263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-dave-navarro","tag-suicide","tag-trauma","tag-world-suicide-prevention-day","issue-child-abuse","issue-domestic-violence","issue-human-trafficking","issue-rape-and-sexual-assault","issue-stalking","issue-victims-of-other-abuse","issue-homeless-youth"],"acf":{"page_header_title":"","page_header_excerpt":"","page_header_image":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/silhouette_hero_image.png","original_url":"","related_initiative_title":"Need support?","related_initiative_link":"\/hotlines","related_initiative_link_text":"Call our Hotlines for help","featured_posts":[{"ID":5189,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2017-12-26 19:31:15","post_date_gmt":"2017-12-26 19:31:15","post_content":"\n
If you find that you, or a loved one, is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please know that help is available here at Safe Horizon and at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Everyone is worthy and deserving of a life of safety and peace.<\/h1>\n
If you\u2019ve been the victim of a crime, violence or abuse, or you\u2019ve lost a loved one to violence we\u2019re here to help. Call our 24-hour FREE and CONFIDENTIAL Crime Victims Hotline at 866-689-HELP (4357)<\/a>. Help is available in any language.<\/h2>\n
If you\u2019re struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)<\/a>. If you are in distress, there are professionals who can help you navigate these difficult feelings.<\/h2>\n
If you are in danger or in need of emergency services, please call 911 for immediate assistance.<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
![\"5](\"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/5-Ways-to-Support-Someone-You-Love-Who-Has-Experienced-a-Traumatic-Event-1024x683.jpg\")
\r\n\r\nDecember 26, 2017<\/em>\r\n\r\nThe holidays can bring up all kinds of emotions. If someone close to you shares with you that they have had an experience of abuse or violence, it can be shocking, and often it\u2019s difficult to know what to say. If it happens, here are some ways you can help:\r\n1. Listen Compassionately and Without Judgment<\/h1>\r\nEven when you disagree or don't understand.\r\n\r\nKnow that trauma\u2014 both the experience itself and how its impact stays with us\u2014 can be challenging to communicate clearly to others.\u202f Be patient.\r\n
2. Let Them Guide the Conversation<\/h1>\r\nTry not to interrupt, even though you may be feeling anxious to take action. Asking yes or no questions might force them into an area they don\u2019t want to discuss. Instead, ask open-ended questions and let them decide how they want to answer.\r\n
3. Don't Make Assumptions<\/h1>\r\nAbout how they feel or what their needs are.\r\n\r\nYou can offer options, but avoid telling them what they \"should\u201d do, even with good intentions. Instead, ask how you can be helpful.\r\n
4. Remember that Healing is a Complex Process<\/h1>\r\nTheir experience may be affecting them in ways that might not make sense to you, but are very clear to them. The effects of trauma are both mental and physical, and they are far more complex to overcome than, \u201cTry not to think about it,\u201d or \u201cJust let it go,\u201d even if it occurred a long time ago.\r\n
5. Check in With Them Later<\/h1>\r\nAnd keep in mind that they may not feel like talking at the time.\r\n\r\nIt\u2019s important to let them know that you care, but not to go so far as to make them feel fussed over, or like they are a problem that needs to be managed.\r\n\r\nShare these tips by clicking the graphic below:<\/a>\r\n\r\n
![\"5](\"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/5-Ways-to-Support-Someone-You-Love-Who-Has-Experienced-a-Traumatic-Event-212x300.png\")
<\/a>\r\nPlease know that you and your loved one are not alone. If you need to talk, we\u2019re here to listen.<\/h2>\r\nSafe Horizon\u2019s Hotlines operate 24 hours a day, including on holidays. Your call is confidential. Whether you\u2019re in crisis or you\u2019re unsure if your experience constitutes abuse, violence, or crime, we\u2019re here to help. Call 1-800-621-HOPE (4673)<\/a> to speak with an advocate today or visit our Hotlines page for more information<\/a>.","post_title":"5 Ways to Support Someone You Love Who Has Experienced a Traumatic Event","post_excerpt":"Has someone shared with you their experience of abuse or violence? Read our 5 tips on how you can support someone who has experienced a traumatic event.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"5-ways-support-someone-experienced-traumatic-event","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-06-10 13:45:20","post_modified_gmt":"2025-06-10 17:45:20","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/?p=5189","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"title_font_size":"42","sub-headline_placement":false,"custom_scripts":false,"show_author_bio":false},"yoast_head":"\n