Gordon Flett

So I'll do whatever that is and not worry about the consequences.

So the most extensive research so far has been focused on two themes, the link between the feeling of not mattering and depression, and the link between the feeling of not mattering and loneliness.

Yes, there is.

It's shown both in terms of research as well as in case studies.

And in terms of the research, there's about 10 studies now that show the link between the feeling of not mattering, especially with our anti-mattering scale and suicidality.

And some of these people also tend to be perfectionistic where they feel that too much has been expected of them and they feel that they don't matter.

And the sad part is, often with people who have clearly reached some conclusion that they don't matter, they've convinced themselves that they are so insignificant.

But importantly, I have to point out that the main slogan of the suicide prevention program in the United States is, you matter.

And that slogan was out there before any research was done.

And I think it was because people realized that there's a life-saving potential to showing somebody that they matter and also finding a way to get the people to feel that sense of mattering so that they're not going to get to that point.

And it's so uplifting when somebody says, I'm not feeling great today.

I don't matter.

And then legions of people jump in saying, yes, you do.

You can call me.

you know, total strangers or people that know them.

And I'm convinced that there's an enormous potential here for suicide prevention, where it's not just a slogan, where the promotion of the feeling of mattering and how to reach out to people when you're feeling like you're feeling psychological pain and wondering about your significance, that could work wonders in terms of saving many of the people that you referred to.

And sadly, you know, when you think about it,

When people are at the point where they're willing to do something where they will no longer be with us, it clearly is something that means that they've lost the sense of mattering in a positive way.

The way I talk about it is, well, you know, you've got an incredible double-edged sword here.

There's the joy and the happiness and the sense of contentment and engagement that comes from feeling like others see you as important and paying attention to you.