More than 700,000 people die by suicide every year; that is one person every 40 seconds. It is the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds globally. Suicides and suicide attempts have a ripple effect that impacts on families, friends, colleagues, communities and societies. Suicide means ending your own life. It is sometimes a way for people to escape pain or suffering. When someone ends their own life, we say that they “died by suicide.” A “suicide attempt” means that someone tried to end their life, but did not die.
You may have strong feelings that are hard to deal with. You may feel like things will never be better, but you are not alone. Many people think about suicide. Thinking about suicide does not mean that you will do it. It does not mean that you are “going crazy.” Thinking about suicide is often a sign that you want to escape from a dark place. Circumstances that can lead to suicide include bullying, stigma associated with help seeking and mental disorder, criminal or legal problems, feeling of helplessness, social isolation, discrimination, loss of relationships, substance use, serious sickness such as chronic pain, historical trauma such as abuse, violence etc.
If someone is at a risk of suicide, you can watch for the following signs: talking about a burden, cleaning out their houses, giving things away, joking or posting about wanting to die, expressing hopelessness, extreme mood swings, recklessness in driving, substance use, aggression, increased anxiety, isolation, talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain, developing a carefree attitude etc. These indicators are quite subtle, so please do not blame yourself if you do not catch them.
I can remember the story of a young girl in my neighbourhood who killed herself by drinking insecticide at the middle of night when her folks went for vigil. Her school teacher said she used to be a very bright kid in school but all of a sudden she withdrew from all school social activities, lost interest in her studies and was always isolating herself in school. Some days after she died, her folks saw her diary and got to know that she was raped by some rascal along the street when she was sent on an errand on a certain night. How about the popular American footballer, Phillips Adams that shot and killed himself following an argument with the police? He was identified by investigators as the gunman responsible for killing six people the day before and after his death, an autopsy revealed that he was suffering from the brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Suicidal does not have a look; it can be the person who is always making everyone laugh, the person who always seems happy, the person who is always keeping busy and active or the he person who seem to have everything going on for them. So if someone ever opens up to you about being suicidal, please do not push them away, let them know you care about them, be the one who keeps them here and help uplift them out of their dark times, be non-judgmental by trying not to criticise or blame them, empathise with them, check on them regularly, pray for them lest you lose the chance forever.
To my friends out their having suicidal thoughts, please speak up and get help immediately, remove potential means of harming yourself, get together with others, write about your thoughts and feelings. Look beyond suicidal thoughts because the hopelessness you feel as you consider it may be the side effect of a different situation or an illness that can be treated. Please, recognize that these feelings are temporary, know that your loved ones would feel miserable, pain and guilt after you are gone and create a list of reasons you have to live. When there is life, there is hope.
Don’t suffer in silence because no one wants to hear about your depression. I know things have been hard, they may still be hard, but I am proud of you and I am so glad you are still here. I had rather hear about your depression than your death. Talk to me, I love you and I care.
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