- shruti397
Suicide: World Suicide Prevention Day
Lorrena Areosa
"Every suicide is a tragedy”
– Margaret Chan, former director general of WHO
Suicide refers to taking one’s own life. Research indicates that 720,000 individuals die every year by suicide. With each death, another 8 to 10 lives changed forever. The intention here is to bring awareness to this important date and topic; identify warning signs and underline how ‘talking’ and seeking support can aid prevention.
What We Know
The reasons individuals commit suicide involve psychological, environmental, and biological factors across the lifespan. Suicide is among the leading causes of death for young adults. The suicide rate is higher in men, than in women, possibly due to gender stereotypes and differences in help-seeking behaviour. Finally, about 70% of suicides globally, occur in low – to – middle income countries.
Warning Signs
Talking about:
Wanting to die
Being a burden to others
Feeling intense guilt or shame
Feeling:
Empty, worthless, hopeless, trapped, desperate
Extreme sadness, anxiety, agitation or rage
Unbearable emotional/ physical pain
Changes in behaviour, such as:
Increased substance use
Planning or researching ways to die
Saying goodbye, giving items away, writing a note
Withdrawal from friends/ family/ social isolation
Changes in eating and/or sleeping patterns
Losing interest in personal appearance or hygiene
Recklessness, taking dangerous risks
In a positive light, there are protective factors, like:
Access to appropriate mental health services
Supportive environments/ healthy relationships
A sense of purpose, belonging, and meaning in life
A sense of connectedness with friends/ community
If you are seeking mental health support, do not hesitate to reach out to our psychologist Lorrena Areosa. We are here to help you.
If you are in crisis/ need immediate care, contact/ visit:
Rashid or Al Amal Hospital – Adults
Al Jalila Children’s Hospital – Children
References
Preventing suicide: a global imperative. (2014). In WHO. The World Health Organisation. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/131056/9789241564878_eng.pdf?sequence=8
Schell, D., Gillies, J., Johnston, B., & Warwick, L. (2021). Why we need to talk about suicide. Pressbooks. https://opentextbc.ca/suicideawareness/chapter/why-we-need-to-talk-about-suicide/
Warning Signs of Suicide – Suicide Prevention Resource Centre. (2020). Retrieved September 5, 2024, from https://sprc.org/warning-signs-for-suicide/
Warning Signs of Suicide. (2022). National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/warning-signs-of-suicide
World Health Organization. (2024). Suicide. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide