Provide Hope

Welcome to another episode of The CoalFace. In this second instalment for September, we’re focusing on a powerful theme: HOPE.

Research shows that hope plays a key role in recovery from depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The higher someone’s level of hope, the more likely they are to recover—especially when combined with talk therapy.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve faced adversity yourself. That means you’re in a unique position to help others through their struggles. While there’s no single cure for suicidal thoughts, sometimes YOU can be the lifeline someone needs.

## How to Provide Hope

When supporting someone who feels low, hopeless, or is thinking of harming themselves, here are some guiding principles:

- **Adopt a mindset of hope. ** Think: *“I’m here to provide hope. With me, you’re not alone.” *
- **Remember that hope is real. ** And where hope exists, healing is possible. Healing doesn’t require an apology or a perfect solution—it requires a belief in the future.
- **Your presence matters. ** Both your words and your silence can provide value. When words stop helping, listen more. Listening itself is a powerful form of hope.

Hope provides energy, clarity, and resilience. Simply being there can make a difference.

## Barriers to Helping

It’s common to feel unsure about what to say when someone admits they’re not okay. Barriers often include:

- Lack of confidence
- Not knowing what to ask
- Feeling unwell yourself
- Fear of saying the wrong thing

Sometimes people adopt the mindset: *“No news is good news. If I haven’t heard from them, they must be fine.” * But silence can be dangerous. A traumatised brain often withdraws and isolates. If you let someone live in silence, they may die in it. **Silence should never be someone’s legacy. **

## Understanding Thoughts

Thoughts are powerful—they can inspire hope, creativity, and joy. But they can also be intrusive, negative, and overwhelming. The key is to remember that thoughts are not always good or bad. They’re simply signals, and you get to choose how to respond.

Think of life like Google Maps. When you take a wrong turn, it doesn’t say, *“You’re lost.” * It simply recalculates. Your thoughts work the same way. If you get stuck in negative thinking, you can always recalculate and find your way back.

Ask yourself two important questions:
1. **Where am I right now? ** (in relationships, health, work, finances, spirituality, or any other area of life).
2. **Where do I want to be? **

These questions spark motivation, curiosity, and goal setting. They also build hope for the future while helping you accept where you are today.

## A Creative Tool: Music and Thoughts

Movies use music to shape the mood of a scene. You can use the same trick with your thoughts.

When you experience unwanted or distressing thoughts, imagine what soundtrack would play if this were a movie scene. Give the scene a title. This creates distance between you and the thought, making it easier to manage.

Two things often happen:
- You grow tired of the “song” and the thought loses power.
- The music itself becomes the focus, replacing the negative thought.

This simple technique can help you step back and regain control.

## Final Thoughts

Hope is not abstract—it’s real, and it’s contagious. By offering hope, you give people strength, clarity, and the courage to keep going.

As we close out September, we’re heading into Christmas movie season—a time filled with stories of resilience, joy, and connection. Until next time, remember hope is here, and with it, healing is possible. Yippee Kayay.