Trigger Warning: Mention of Suicide
Suicide.
Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for Black and Hispanic populations. But this cause of death is not only seen in certain kinds of people, but it is with everyone. Whether you are an asian, american, australian, british, or etc. you all have chance to encounter suicide. In the past 8 years, the number of countries with national suicide prevention strategies has already increased. Yet, unfortunately, as the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said…
“Despite progress, one person still dies every 40 seconds from suicide.”
This is why it is important that we continuously educate and raise awareness about suicide prevention and mental health in general.
Tips on How to Help a Loved One in a Mental Health Crisis
As simple citizens, we should start raising suicide prevention awareness by helping our loved ones who are experiencing mental health crises. Here are some tips on how to do this:
- Educate yourself and others. – The first step in raising awareness is to know the symptoms of mental health issues or risk of suicide. To learn more about the signs/behaviors of suicidal people, continue reading this article.
- Talk to your loved ones. – You can ask them direct questions such as “Are you thinking about suicide?” or “Are you thinking about hurting yourself?”. In this way, you’re offering them an opportunity to talk about their feelings.
- Persuade them to get help. – In doing this, don’t forget to remind them that they are not alone if they seek help. Let them know that you can help them go to a hospital or therapist. If this doesn’t work do not let them be alone and do the next step below.
- Call 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) the National Suicide Prevention Hotline – Refer them to the appropriate resources. Ideally, you should escort your loved one to the appropriate resource.
Signs that Your Loved One is Feeling Suicidal
As for the signs of a suicidal person, here are some behaviors to take note of to know if someone is thinking about suicide.
They are talking about:
- Wanting to die
- Great guilt or shame
- Being a burden to others
They are feeling:
- Empty, hopeless, or having no reason to live
- Extremely sad, anxious, agitated, or full of rage
- Unbearable emotional or physical pain
Has changes in behavior like:
- Making a plan or researching ways to die
- Withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items, and making a will
- Taking dangerous risks such as driving extremely fast
- Displaying extreme mood swings
- Eating or sleeping more or less
- Using drugs or alcohol more often
If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently. Shirley Therapeutic and Consulting Services, LLC is a diverse therapy clinic that can meet the needs of anyone. If you’d like to talk about your mental health, feel free to message us here. In case of emergency or thoughts of suicide, please click on this link: https://www.sprc.org/states/georgia
References:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Warning signs of suicide. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved August 28, 2022, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/warning-signs-of-suicide Angela Thoreson, L. I. C. S. W. (2022, August 25). Suicide is about perceived relief.
Mayo Clinic Health System. Retrieved August 29, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/suicide-isnt-about-dying-its-about-perceived-relief US suicides are stagnant or rising among some groups.
SPH US Suicide Rates Are Stagnant or Rising among Many Groups Despite Overall National Decline Comments. (2022, April 14). Retrieved August 29, 2022, from https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2022/us-suicides-are-stagnant-or-on-the-rise-among-many-groups/
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Suicide: One person dies every 40 seconds. World Health Organization. Retrieved August 29, 2022, from https://www.who.int/news/item/09-09-2019-suicide-one-person-dies-every-40-seconds
