What is your opinion regarding suicide? According to the World Health Organisation data published in 2020, suicide deaths in Namibia reached 243 or 1.43% of total deaths and ranks Namibia #36 in the world.
Suicide is a contemporary social issue that does not receive the much-needed interventions it deserves. Losing a life is not just a person who departs from the physical realm. We lose mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, and brothers, sisters, both young and old. We lose breadwinners, we lose public servants/leaders, caregivers, and most importantly we lose loved ones.
It is no surprise that when
at a memorial service of someone who has died by suicide, a lot of soundless questions are asked, and often further perpetuating the stigma that surrounds it. People ponder on the thought of; if only they saw the signs earlier, if only they listened more or noticed something different. We lay those loved ones with some degree of regret accompanied by anger and deep sadness. As we mourn those lost due to suicide, it is but a sad reality in our country. One wonders if we are doing enough to mitigate or prevent suicide, as citizens, as civil societies, as government, as families, as society in general. There are often time warning signs that we can look out for as a society. The Centre for Disease Controls affirms that, the goal of suicide prevention is usually aimed at reducing risk factors while increasing factors that promote resilience. So in other words, it is having the ability to recognise some of the tell signs that increase the risk thereof. Other linkages can be mental health challenges (known, diagnosed or not).
The below extract is taken from the American Psychiatric Association and clearly outlines risk factors, warning signs and protective factors (quoted).
“Risk factors for suicide
º Previous suicide attempt(s)
º A history of suicide in the family
º Substance misuse
º Mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder)
º Access to lethal means (e.g., keeping firearms in the home)
º Losses and other events (e.g., breakup of a relationship or a death, academic failures, legal difficulties, financial difficulties, bullying)
º History of trauma or abuse
º Chronic physical illness, including chronic pain
Warning signs of suicide
º Often talking or writing about death, dying or suicide
º Making comments about being hopeless, helpless or worthless
º Expressions of having no reason for living; no sense of purpose in life; saying things like “It would be better if I wasn’t here” or “I want out.”
º Increased alcohol and/or drug misuse
º Withdrawal from friends, family and community
º Reckless behavior or more risky activities, seemingly without thinking
º Dramatic mood changes
º Talking about feeling trapped or being a burden to others
Protective factors
º Contacts with providers (e.g., follow-up phone call from health care professional)
º Effective mental health care; easy access to a variety of clinical interventions
º Strong connections to individuals, family, community and social institutions
º Problem-solving and conflict resolution skills
What you can do
If someone indicates they are considering suicide, listen and take their concerns seriously. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about their plans. Let them know you care, and they are not alone. Encourage them to seek help immediately from a knowledgeable professional. Don’t leave them alone.
Five tips from CDC for what you can do if you’re concerned about a friend or loved one:
º Ask someone you are worried about if they’re thinking about suicide. (While people may be hesitant to ask, research shows this is helpful.)
º Keep them safe. Reduce access to lethal means for those at risk.
º Be there with them. Listen to what they need.
º Help them connect with ongoing support.
º Stay connected. Follow up to see how they’re doing.”
Derived from: American Psychiatric Association: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/suicide-prevention