World Suicide Prevention Day, 2024

Prof Dr N Heramani Singh / Dr Seram Chaoba Devi AP / Dr Meesha SR / Dr Nomita Keisham CP *

World Suicide Prevention Day observed on September 10 2023 :: Pix - TSE

An estimate of more than 7,00,000 people die by suicide worldwide each year and more concerning than this is that for every suicide that results in death, there are as many as 20 attempted suicide.

Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families, communities and entire countries and long lasting effects on the people left behind. Globally suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in 15-29 years of age group.

DEATH BY SUICIDE IN INDIA

India is among the countries with the highest number of suicides. In India suicide is among the major causes of all deaths.
-468 deaths by suicide per day.
-20 deaths by suicide per hour.
-1 death by suicide per 184 second

Men and women have almost the same level of risk. Suicide is commonest in age group of 18- 45 years, with highest number of suicide occurring among 15 to 29 years age group.

WHY DO PEOPLE COMMIT SUICIDE?

90% of the people who took their own life suffered from some type of psychiatric disorder. Depression alone has 20 times higher risk for suicide than any other disorder.

Other factors includes:
o Family problems
o Drug abuse/alcohol addiction
o Financial stress
o Relationship stress
o Academic stress.

World suicide prevention day is observed every year on the 10th of September to draw attention to this important public health issue globally.

THIS YEAR THEME: “CHANGING THE NARRATIVE ON SUICIDE”

How can we change the narrative

Silence to discussing openly ?
Stigmatizing to emphathizing ?
Attention seeker to need for help ?
Weakness to call for help ?
No one can stop to can be prevented ?
Taboo to public health issue ?
Mental health issue to complex socio-economic issue ?
Lecturing to listening to them ?
Waste of resources to investing in prevention ?
Happens without warning to with warning ?
Threat for fulfilling demands to cry for help ?

This year theme also emphasizes the need to prioritize suicide prevention and mental health in policy making, calling for Government action.

There is a need to encourages individual, communities, organization and governments to engage in open, honest discussions about mental health and suicide. By starting conversation, we can break down barriers and raise awareness relating to suicide and create better cultures of support and prevent suicide. Every conversation, no matter how small, contributes to a more supportive and understanding society.

SOME MYTHS AND FACTS OF SUICIDE

1. MYTH : It is a sign of weakness.
FACT : It is a cry for help.

2. MYTH : Once someone is suicidal, he/she will always remain suicidal.
FACT : Suicidality is not permanent.

2. MYTH : Talking or asking about suicide will encourage people to commit suicide.
FACT : Talking about suicide will not provoke people to die by suicide.

3. MYTH : Only people with mental illness are suicidal.
FACT : Many people who die from suicide do not suffer from a mental illness.

4. MYTH : Most suicides happen suddenly without warning.
FACT : Majority of suicides are preceded by prominent warning signs for days, weeks or months.

5. MYTH : Suicide can’t be prevented.
FACT : Suicide is preventable but unpredictable.

6. MYTH : Only experts can intervene and prevent suicide
FACT : Anyone who is sensitive to pick up warning signs of suicide can help by providing emotional support and encouragement.

WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE:

1. TALKING ABOUT

o Wanting to die
o Great guilt or shame
o Being a burden to others.
o Feeling of no purpose in life
o Expressions of hopelessness or worthlessness.

2. FEELING

o Empty, hopeless, trapped or having no reason to live.
o Extremely sad, more anxious, agitated.
o Unbearable emotional or physical pain.
o Feeling of comprehensive failure in life.

3. CHANGING BEHAVIOUR SUCH AS:

o Making a plan or researching ways to die.
o Writing suicide notes.
o Withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items or making a will.
o Displaying extreme mood swings.
o Frequent irritability or unexplained crying or erratic behaviour.

PROTECTIVE FACTORS AGAINST SUICIDE RISK:

o Effective coping and problem solving skills
o Reasons for living
o Person is willing to get help.
o Strong sense of responsibility towards their family members.
o Support from partners, friends, family
o Feeling connected to others.
o Cultural, religious or moral objections to suicide.
o Reduced access to lethal means of suicide .
o Availability of physical and mental health care.

PREVENTION

INDIVIDUAL’S ROLE

o Proactively enquire about death wishes, suicidal ideation, simply making the time and space to listen to someone about their experiences of distress can help.
o Help them seek professional help
o Give your free time in service for prevention of suicide.
o Support each other
o Do not stigmatize and discriminate any person with mental illness
o Preparing children for challenges for life.

COMMUNITY’S ROLE:

o Reducing the availibilty of means of suicide.
o Influencing media portrayal of suicide.
o Educating the public about mental illness and its treatment.
o Telephone helpline and internet based support.

FIRST AID OF SUICIDE:

Once you know that the risk of suicide is present in a person, you need to take action to keep the person safe by--

o Never leave someone who is feeling suicidal on their own.
o Try to engage other people from the suicidal person’s social network in preventing suicide.
o Try to remove the means of suicide available to the person if it is safe to do so.
o Express empathy for the person and tell them that you care and want to help.
o Encourage the person to do most of the talking and listen to them without expressing judgement.
o Allow the person to talk about their feelings and their reasons for wanting to die.
o Encourage the person to think about their personal strengths.
o Call or take the person to a psychiatrist or other mental health professional as soon as possible.

Suicide prevention is a collective responsibility and together, we can create a world where every life is valued and supported.