Hope + Hope Kits

The integrated motivational-volitional model posits that entrapment, feeling that there is no escape from defeat in life, drives suicidal desire. Entrapment refers to a specific sense of being stuck, while hopelessness typically refers to a more general sense of pessimism. However, hope appears to mitigate the link between entrapment and suicidal desire.

https://psyche.co/ideas/when-all-looks-bleak-hopebuilding-strategies-offer-a-lifeline

Similarly, cognitive behavioural therapy for suicide prevention (CBT-SP) prioritises hope through conversations about reasons for living, including loved ones and other sources of meaning. It also includes instructions for creating a ‘Hope Kit’ that one can access when suicidal thoughts arise.

Hope kits or boxes can be virtual or physical, and typically include quotes, pictures, and other contents that evoke fond memories (eg, a vacation souvenir), instil a sense of purpose or meaning (eg, pictures of family and friends, spiritual scripture) or have soothing effects (eg, nature pictures, a music playlist). A hope kit is meant to decrease distress and plant seeds of optimism for a better future.