What are my reasons for living?
This is one of the key questions of suicide prevention. In such moments when the dark becomes too deep to bear and pain becomes suffocating, what we need is not just reasons not to die but even more so, reasons to continue to live. What reasons do I have to continue to choose life, to draw breath into my lungs one more time, in spite of the reality that life may bring difficulty and pain?
A hope kit is tool designed to help answer these questions. It is a collection of items and reminders of why life is valuable and worth living. It serves to remind you of reasons for hope, even when that hope may feel hard to grasp.
In my own experience, this is a tool best made in a preventative capacity, and not in the middle of a mental health crisis. If you or a loved one are in crisis and are having thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255) at any time, or call your local mental health crisis line or 911.
How to Make a Hope Kit
Get a box (or any other container) to hold the objects in your hope kit. You can decorate it as much or as little as you’d like. Some people really enjoy turning this into an art project to make the box itself into a thing of beauty.
Gather or create items to place in your box that remind you of hope and of your reasons for living. These may be things that give you hope in this moment or that have brought you hope in the past. Some ideas include:
Photos of family, friends, and loved ones
Photos or representative objects of special experiences or moments you have had or hope to have. This may include vacations, places you’d like to travel, activities, particularly fond memories, etc.
Letters, notes, or printed emails that have been meaningful and encouraging to you
Bible verses or inspirational quotes
Printed song lyrics or poetry or even a recording of music you find hopeful or soothing
Articles, books, or magazines you find meaningful or inspiring
Jokes that make you laugh
Art you have created or that someone else has made for you
Significant objects
Any other items that will offer you reasons for living
Additional items you may want to include. If you’re in a good and hopeful place as you assemble your hope kit, it may be worthwhile to write a letter to your future self about your reasons for living and ways you’ve found to cope in the past. If you’re working with a therapist and have a crisis or safety plan, it may be valuable to keep a copy in your box. Also, you can include things that would serve as a distraction to suicidal or distressing thoughts, even something as simple as a Sudoku or crossword puzzle, if you enjoy such activities.
Keep your hope kit easily accessible, and look through it when you need a reminder of why your life is precious. Because it is.
A few important notes:
Though it is a helpful tool, a hope kit is not a replacement for professional mental health care. If you or a loved one are struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please reach out for professional help using one of the crisis lines above, or through your doctor.
I love the physicality of creating a tangible hope kit, but apps now exist to create one virtually to have on your phone. I’ve not used them personally, but you should give it a try if that would better meet your needs. The two I know of are called “Virtual Hope Box” and “Hope Box.”