In the realm of mental health, suicide and its aftermath extend far beyond the tragic loss of life.
Each year, more than 700,000 people worldwide sadly lose their lives due to suicide and many more attempt it. In the UK alone, 115 people on average die by suicide each week – with 75% of those being male. World Suicide Prevention Day is a time to acknowledge those affected by suicide, raise awareness, and connect individuals with people who can offer support.
'Creating Hope Through Action’ is the triennial theme for the World Suicide Prevention Day from 2021-2023. The theme serves as a powerful call to action and reminder that there is an alternative to suicide and that through our actions we can encourage hope and strengthen prevention.
As well as the stigma that remains around mental health, our human psyche makes it feel very hard for people to talk about death and ultimately suicide. Potentially all of us are at risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours, however, many will not speak out due to any number of factors that include shame and a lack of well-practiced emotional communication skills.
I believe that we need to stop stereotyping men and women as not being able to communicate. Men can communicate but very often they don't because they do not want to cause a scene and so soldier on in silence. I encourage all people to enable men to talk, not just in all men's clubs or groups, but in natural communication between men and women so that we can heal this sense of separation.
We need to do more.
The aftermath of suicide extends far beyond the tragic loss of life itself. It causes a huge impact on the lives of those left behind who feel intense feelings of guilt and self-blame. They may wonder if there was something they could have done differently or if they missed warning signs. Understanding how it affects survivors is essential to fostering empathy, offering support, and breaking the silence surrounding this challenging topic.
In recent years, due to some high-profile cases there has been investment in suicide prevention and I have previously written about the benefits of working together to prevent suicide. On BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, the former Conservative Health Minster Sajid Javid talked candidly about suicide prevention and the loss of his elder brother to it. No matter what your political affiliation it was a very human story of loss and there are countless stories like this told and untold.
It is not an individual problem and there is a compelling need for suicide prevention support and for those who are bereaved. The government has pledged £10 million for voluntary sector and charitable organisations to respond to suicide. Though this might sound like a lot of money, in reality it is not, and it remains important that we as a whole don't use statistics and big figures to hide behind the genuine heartache that is caused by suicide.
We need to improve communication, even from an early age. Let’s work in schools and education, so that we can talk to young people so if they fail an exam or if something adverse happens they feel able to share their thoughts.
We also need to improve police responses to mental health and suicidal welfare. We should propose a project in which people who have been skillfully trained and who get regular supervision can respond at a community level in mental health units so they can listen to people. Often in healthcare, time has become woefully pressured and human connection and communication goes amiss, which unfortunately means help and support for people with thoughts of suicide is not available.
Prevention is better than cure. We need a strengths-based and salutogenic approach to health and wellness.
Suicide prevention is not a day initiative or even a month. It needs to be a 365 days initiative. We need a world that celebrates kindness and CARE (Compassion Acceptance Respect and Empathy) enabling all of society to see and feel the preciousness of life.
Living is better than dying and so when you, your friend or anybody you know may need support, let us create a society that responds to the causes of suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
Mental health
Mental health conditions, for example, depression, generalised anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder can affect people at all stages of their life course. Social care practitioners require a sound understanding of the varied causes and effects of mental health conditions, as well as a working knowledge of key pieces of legislation.
Creating positive change to prevent suicide
Hope is a key component to preventing suicide. For World Suicide Prevention Day, Chukumeka Maxwell outlines some of the ways that we can work collectively to create hope through action to prevent suicide.
Understanding suicide risk in family carers of disabled people and people with long term illnesses: Video learning resources
In this video learning resource Siobhan O’Dwyer discusses the findings and practice implications of an international review into suicide risk in family carers of disabled people and people with long term illnesses.