Poll Talking about suicide in a new book

[whiteraven]

I have written a book on navigating the way through depression. It's in the revision stage now, after I've had several people beta read it.

There is a chapter that deals with thinking about suicide. It's currently the 3rd chapter, but one of my beta readers (who is a social worker) suggested not putting it so close to the beginning because not everyone has suicidal thoughts. My rationale for doing so, though, is to address it upfront for those who are dealing with it and provide some ways of managing it so they can begin to look at ways to manage the depression as a whole. I'll add here that this book is geared toward those who have more severe depression.

What do you think? Close to the front or later in the book?

 

[Charbella]

I can’t vote as my choice isn’t there, I’d vote middle. Long enough for the reader to make a connection with you and therefore understand the chapter but not so late that the reader feels like it’s in an odd place.

 

[whiteraven]

I can’t vote as my choice isn’t there, I’d vote middle. Long enough for the reader to make a connection with you and therefore understand the chapter but not so late that the reader feels like it’s in an odd place.

Thank you! I think I was considering "later in the book" sort of the middle. LOL

 

[BuildingSelf24]

I initially voted later since it could be a triggering topic but it makes sense to put it at the beginning for those suffering with suicidal thoughts to learn ways of dealing with it.

 

[OceanSpray]

Before I vote, what percentage ish is the third chapter and are the first two chapters a heavy enough lead up? What I mean is, it would be jarring if the first couple of chapters are on much, much milder symptoms and then it suddenly jumps into the deep end. The reason I ask the percentage is if it’s happening in the first say 10% of the book, I feel like that could be too early (no scientific basis, just own experience) but if the chapters are longer and have been dealing with heavy topics already and you’re somewhere like 25% in- I’m more inclined to say leave it where it is.

 

[whiteraven]

Before I vote, what percentage ish is the third chapter and are the first two chapters a heavy enough lead up? What I mean is, it would be jarring if the first couple of chapters are on much, much milder symptoms and then it suddenly jumps into the deep end. The reason I ask the percentage is if it’s happening in the first say 10% of the book, I feel like that could be too early (no scientific basis, just own experience) but if the chapters are longer and have been dealing with heavy topics already and you’re somewhere like 25% in- I’m more inclined to say leave it where it is.

Hm...good question. The first two chapters are about the same length at the moment. The first is an introduction--why I'm writing the book, how the reader can benefit, that sort of thing--and the second is asking the reader to take inventory of where they are at the moment. Some of the chapters, including the second, have space for journaling, should the reader choose to do so.

Another thing I considered was putting a note at the beginning of the chapter on suicide that the reader could come back to it after reading the others.

There are currently 12 chapters.

 

[OceanSpray]

Hm...good question. The first two chapters are about the same length at the moment. The first is an introduction--why I'm writing the book, how the reader can benefit, that sort of thing--and the second is asking the reader to take inventory of where they are at the moment. Some of the chapters, including the second, have space for journaling, should the reader choose to do so.

Another thing I considered was putting a note at the beginning of the chapter on suicide that the reader could come back to it after reading the others.

There are currently 12 chapters.

In that case, I’d leave it at the third chapter and absolutely take a page at the beginning of that chapter to act as a small barrier for anyone not ready and telling them to skip to chapter 4 (or wherever).

 

[Friday]

I haven’t cast a vote.

It depends, almost entirely, on your title.

Who are you trying to reach, where? How much focus, in how many ways, are you determined on?