One in every 100 deaths worldwide is a result of suicide. Suicide consistently ranks among the top 20 causes of death. Suicide rates are twice as high for men than women. Suicide is a global problem.1
September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, a day to raise awareness about suicide and what we can do to prevent suicide. With more than 700,000 people who die from suicide each year and many more people who attempt suicide, raising awareness helps to reduce suicide rates and stigma around suicide.1
By leaning about suicide, the factors that put someone at risk of suicide and how suicide can be prevented, you can help save someone else’s life or even yours.
September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, a day to raise awareness about suicide and what we can do to prevent suicide. With more than 700,000 people who die from suicide each year and many more people who attempt suicide, raising awareness helps to reduce suicide rates and stigma around suicide.1
By learning about suicide, the factors that put someone at risk of suicide and how suicide can be prevented, you can help save someone else’s life or even yours.
What is suicide? 2
Suicide is when someone ends their own life.
A suicide attempt is when someone harms themselves with an intent to end their life, but they do not die from their actions.
Suicidal ideation or wishes is when someone thinks, considers or is planning suicide, but the person did not take any action.
Suicide is a tragedy in that the death was preventable – a tragedy affecting families and communities and has long lasting effects on the people left behind. Suicide can affect every one of us.
Who is at risk of suicide? 3
A person chooses to die by suicide because of many different reasons and not by one reason alone. People’s personalities, personal and social lives, financial situation, life events, childhood, health and mental health, gender all combine and may put someone at risk of suicide.
While there is a connection between mental illness and suicide, many suicides happen in moments of crisis when the person is not able to deal with difficult life events such as financial problems, ending a relationship or life-long pain and illness.
Experiences of conflict, disaster, violence, abuse or loss and feelings of isolation put people at greater risk of suicide. People in vulnerable groups who face discrimination like refugees and migrants, LGBTI persons and prisoners have a high rate of suicide.
Someone with a previous suicide attempt has the highest risk to attempt suicide again, only the next time may be fatal.
Warnings signs of suicide 4
When someone is thinking about ending their life, there are changes in their mood, behaviors, and activities. By noticing these changes, we can see the warnings signs that show someone is in distress and needs support.
Warning signs of suicide include: hopelessness, rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge, acting reckless or engaging in risky activities – seemingly without thinking, feeling trapped like there’s no way out, increased alcohol or drug use, withdrawing from friends, family & society, anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time and dramatic mood changes.
Helping someone 4
If you think someone you know is feeling suicidal, you can reach out to them to show that you care. Do not be afraid to ask someone if they are suicidal. You can ask “are you thinking about suicide?” or “are you ok?” It is not true that asking someone about suicide will make the situation worse. Simply making time to listen to someone about their distress helps to develop a sense of connection and hope for the person who is struggling.
You do not need to have all the answers. Instead by just talking to someone, you give them empathy, compassion, genuine concern, knowledge of where to get support, and your willingness to help. For someone in distress, this can save their life.
When we normalize conversations about suicide with friends, family and at workplaces, it helps us to better understand suicide, to support and prevent people at risk of suicide and to reduce stigma around suicide.
By having a dialogue around a topic that is taboo and not spoken enough about, we can respond in a way that saves lives and support families and communities who have been affected by a death from suicide.
If you or anyone you know is thinking about suicide, please find support and see this Global Suicide Hotline Resource. If your country is not listed, please contact your local emergency services.
For resources on suicide, visit:
The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)
World Health Organization Suicide Prevention
Download the Take Time to Reach Out IASP resource.
References:
1. https://www.iasp.info/wspd/
3. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/mental-health/suicide-rates
4. https://www.iasp.info/wp-content/uploads/Take-Time-to-Reach-Out-WSPD.pdf
Header photo: Pixaby
On Culture and Mental Health 