?? Youre Not Alone If You Think of Suicide On Your Job Search

?? You're Not Alone If You Think of Suicide On Your Job Search 34 You're not alone because many others think of it, and you're not alone because many others will help you avoid it. Photo by Ben White This is something I've meant to blog about for a while. I wasn't sure it would come across properly, but if this helps even one job seeker considering suicide, it's worth it. I regret not having done it sooner. Back in 2006, after my previous employer decided to outsource my entire team's work, I was living in Paris, France, and trying to find a job in Israel when I had the idea to start JobMob as a way to learn about blogging by blogging about that job search. I did ultimately find a job in Israel and we moved from Paris in 2007, but I kept blogging because I discovered that I really enjoyed helping other job seekers like you.eval There were also more selfish reasons. Among them, I thought that by learning more about job search as I blogged, I could protect myself from ever feeling job search depression again like I had back in 2002.eval Free bonus: Download The Job Search Depression Report which contains insights and resources on how to manage if you're too depressed to look for work. Looking back at it now, my job search depression was relatively light compared to so many stories I've seen since then, but that rough period of life really surprised me and made me realize that your career is no joke and your life can literally depend on it. I never considered suicide. However, the tough time brought back memories of two cute little boys I used to babysit as a teenager. They lived in a nice neighborhood, in a nice house, and their parents had nice cars who would go out often and to good restaurants around town. All until their father was let go from his white collar job. This led to a noticeable change in the house, even in the eyes of a soon-to-be former babysitter. Then one busy morning during rush hour, the father walked in front of a subway train. I was reminded of this story again when a JobMob reader emailed me for advice, saying: My situation stinks and I have contemplated suicide. I often find myself alone and depressed with no optimism for my future. I feel like a wounded soldier in battle who has been left to die in the trenches, after broken promises. Absolutely heart-wrenching. And not uncommon. Many job seekers reach this low point: Been almost 2 years without a job, honestly considering suicide at this point Can't get a job, feeling hopeless Joblessness And Hopelessness: The Link Between Unemployment And Suicide And many, many job seekers go all the way with it: Unemployment over the period 2000 to 2011 was responsible for 45,000 [deaths], an analysis in the journal Lancet Psychiatry has found. The authors say their findings suggest that suicide prevention strategies need to target those who lose their jobs even in countries unaffected by recession. They found the suicide risk among the unemployed was stronger where more people were in work and the situation of the jobless was therefore more unusual. My response to the JobMob reader began this way: Please don't commit suicide! It's a permanent solution to a short-term problem*, and I'm not glossing over it: I've been depressed myself and I know that it feels like “this is the way my life is now”. It's not. Seek help. At the very least, call a national suicide hotline asap (* a line I've heard Philip DeFranco say) If you're feeling this down or know someone who is, please, PLEASE, follow this advice. Here's a list that should help. If you've ever considered suicide for job-related reasons, were you: employed unemployed View Results Suicide prevention hotlines around the world ???? Australia Suicide Prevention Australia Call: 13 11 14 or 1300 659 467 ???? Canada Crisis Services Canada Call: 1-833-456-4566 ???? India OneLife Call: 78930 78930 ???? Israel ERAN (I've blogged about them in the past) Call: 1201 ???? Philippines Natasha Goulbourn Foundation Call: (02) 804-HOPE (4673) or 0917 558 HOPE (4673) ???? South Africa Lifeline Call: 0861 322 322 ???? UK Samaritans Call: 116 123 (UK) or 116 123 (ROI) ???? USA National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) What others are saying 9 Ways to Dispel Thoughts of Suicide During a Job Search How Employment Agents Push the Unemployed to Suicide: A True Story Suicide and the Unemployed Question of the article What would you have said to the JobMob reader thinking of suicide, in my place? Tell us in the comments. Unemployment Rant â€" Can't find a job ANYWHERE doing ANYTHING since 2009!!! (STILL jobless into 2014) [he found a job in 2015]