Small, Everyday Joys Can Save Your Life

A massive Reddit thread has helped researchers zero in on what can keep people alive in their darkest moments—and it often isn't something big. University of Maryland professor Philip Resnik and colleagues analyzed more than 16,000 replies from people who said they had once been suicidal but had rebounded, reports CBS News. They found four common categories among respondents, starting with concern about what their death would mean for others—including pets. Others were simple pleasures like TV, music, food, or games; a belief that the future could improve; and even feeling negative emotions such as fear, spite, and anger.

Examples of the latter "might include proving others wrong, fearing religious punishment, or concerns about consequences of living through a suicide attempt," per a university release. "We would usually see negative emotions making people's lives worse," says Resnik. "But our analysis suggests that in the short term, in times of high risk or crisis, we shouldn't miss or dismiss the possibility that they might be unexpected lifelines." Still, one of the most interesting takeaways for Resnik was how the responses made clear that "small things can actually have a big effect." The findings in Scientific Reports could shift how clinicians assess risk with patients, the researchers say.