SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION

 

Suicide Awareness & Prevention

Pages on calendars have turned, and we’re now in the September of 2021. Ever since the pandemic, for many, times have been more difficult than ever before. You might not be a stranger to articles and news reporting the declining state of the youth’s mental health. Therefore, it is more important now than ever, to talk about self-harming behaviors and suicide.

On September 10^th, the world observes World Suicide Prevention Day. The entire month of September is called Suicide Prevention month. To promote World Suicide Awareness Day, this article aims for you to understand suicidal behavior, suicide ideation, what to do if you’re having suicidal thoughts, and what to do if someone you know is having it. Before getting into it, we shall dive into the general facts about suicide.

Defining Suicide

Suicide refers to the act of harming oneself physically, with an intent to die, and succeeding. The major statistics we may mention in this article are centered on suicide rates. However, it is equally important to discuss attempted suicide, which refers to the act of hurting oneself with the intent to die, that does not end in death. Not surprisingly, attempted suicide is the strongest risk factor for suicide. However, it would be a huge mistake to assume that suicide is only caused by mental illnesses. A lot of times, suicide is caused by a crisis, in response to abuse, loss, discrimination, financial issues, and so on.

Suicide in the World

WHO reports that more than 700,000 people die from suicide every year. It is the 17^th leading cause of death all over the world. Moreover, because of the taboo and social stigma associated with suicide, a lot of cases of suicide go unreported. They might be reported as accidents. For each suicide, the ratio of attempted suicide is over 20.

Suicide is the fourth most common cause of death in young people, although it is more common for old people to die of it. Some groups are more affected by it. For example, minorities in first-world countries, the LGBTQ+ community, people suffering from mental disorders, and so on. Men are more likely to die by suicide but women are more likely to attempt it. But the bottom line is, suicide is something anybody from any social background can experience.

Suicide in India

In India, more than 120,000 people die of suicide every year. That’s 17% of the suicides happening all around the world! In 2016, the suicide rate per 100,000 people was 16.5, whereas the global average was 10.5 per 100,000. The most vulnerable age group was found to be 15 to 29. According to 2016 data, suicide is the leading cause of death amongst the youth in India. Therefore, we need to listen to young people! We need to listen to what they’re saying and take their issues seriously. 

What to Look Out for

You might have heard about farmer suicides and student suicides in the news. While one is caused by financial and social stress, the other is caused by the pressures of the education system. However, there is a certain social stigma that prevents people from talking about psychological causes that lead to suicide. We acknowledge the social evils that lead to people taking their lives. However, our focus is on the psychological issues around suicide in this article.

About 70% of people who attempt suicide show signs, either verbally or non-verbally. What does this mean? It means you might be in a position to help! So, how would you know if someone around you could need help? Here are a few pointers:

·       Suicide Ideation – Suicidal ideation, more commonly known as suicidal thoughts, is a term used to refer to a range of contemplations around taking one’s own life. These thoughts can range from simply thinking about suicide or death to making an elaborate plan in one’s head to take one’s life. So, the next time you see your friend sharing way too many “jokes” about wanting to die, it might be time to check up on them.

·       Suicidal Behavior – Suicidal behavior is a broad term that includes suicide ideation, self-harm, and attempting suicide. Stressful conditions in one’s life may lead to any or all of these behaviors. Potentially dangerous behavior, for example, having unsafe sex or driving recklessly has been found to be a risk factor for suicide. If someone you know constantly engages in behaviors that put their life at risk, they could be in need of help.

·       Recent Crisis or Trauma – Experiencing some sort of trauma or a life crisis, for example, the death of a loved one can be emotionally overwhelming. In times like these people are more prone to taking drastic steps.

·       Social Withdrawal – A person can withdraw from plans, avoid people, stay too much in complete solitude before an attempt. Make sure to check up on your friends when they’re unusually withdrawn from not just you, but all of their friends/family.

·       Hopelessness about Self and Future: Suicide is often the last resort used by individuals who are dissatisfied with life. An impending sense of doom can be seen in suicidal individuals, where they might not see the point of continuing their life.

·       Verbal Warning – More than 50% of the people who have died by suicide have given someone a warning, or a threat, before taking their lives. Never take a suicide threat lightly.  

·       Previous Attempts – This is the most obvious sign or risk factor that exists in suicidal individuals. A person who has attempted to die once is very likely to do it again.

 

How to Help

No matter what your negative thoughts might tell you, life is always worth living. Life is precious. If you think you know someone who might be suicidal, here are a few things you can do about it.  

·       Tell them how much they mean to you. It might not seem like much, but it is nice to know you’re loved. Before showering them with questions and mechanically handing them resources – talk to them. Tell them they’re valued.

·       “Is there anything I can do for you?” In a lot of cases, people may be stuck in stressful situations that you cannot help. For example, a toxic home environment. In such cases, when you don’t know what to do – ask them. Simply asking “how to help” goes a long way. Let them know they can ask you for help.

·       Tell them they are not alone. Whatever they think is unbeatable for them to survive, I promise you – it’s not. Tell them they’re strong and they’ve been very strong throughout their life. Tell them they’re not alone.

·       Recommend them to get help. Though people might hesitate to join first, after a few sessions – therapy is worth it. If they cannot afford therapy, there still are resources to help! Many mental health organizations exist that offer you services at affordable prices. Some even offer a few free initial sessions.   

·       Resources: Reach out to the resources to help your friend or help yourself out. Remember: it’s okay to ask for help and it’s also okay to need help.