5 ways to raise Suicide Awareness

“This life. This night. Your story. Your pain. Your hope. It matters. All of it Matters.“

– Jamie Tworkowski 

Since 2003, World Suicide Prevention Day has been observed on September 10th to provide global contribution and actions to prevent suicides through various activities all over the world. According to the World Health Organization, suicide is the second most common cause of death among people between the ages 15 to 29 worldwide. Such data shows that suicide is a worldwide phenomenon, which is a frightening but true reality.

Mental health is becoming an increasingly important issue. We have observed a rise in mental health issues as a result of COVID-19. Several individuals have lost their work opportunities and felt isolated as a result of the pandemic, resulting in a rise in mental illness. Also, recovering from post-Covid mental illness is difficult, and time consuming and requires attention to treatment.

In 2022, the theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is “Creating hope through action“.

In this article we talk about 5 ways you can help raise awareness and take action for suicide prevention.

Break down the stigma around suicide

Public awareness and learning are important components of successful public health efforts. People should continue to campaign for testing for suicidal thoughts and depression at each and every primary healthcare visit. Education is also extremely important. This includes providing family members and friends with convenient access to relevant information that can be used to assist those experiencing mental distress.

Another way to share relevant information, stop the stigma and normalize talking about mental health is to blog about it. Check out CauseAChatter and how the platform provides voice to important social issues like this.

Recognize the warning signs of suicide 

Neglect, persistent unhappiness, as well as an unusual desire to throw away important belongings just are a couple of the warning signs. People who really are going through with a crisis, such as the death of a family member one, the end of a relationship or a major financial failure, are more likely to develop depression and, by extension, feel suicidal and more often than not, take action in the direction of those thoughts.

Have a conversation with your dear ones 

It really is critical to take time from your day just to sincerely ask somebody how they are, and whether you can help if they’re not doing too well. Giving others the opportunity to talk regarding their own mental well-being could save their lives and tell them that you care. Because you’re talking about it, it’s also a great way to increase awareness about mental illness.

Formal education should include life skills: 

Life lessons will educate kids how and where to deal constructively to difficulties and conflicts in their daily life. Several individuals hold a negative story about addressing suicide; they blame the person or use inappropriate language. That is why formal education should be encouraged in order to discuss such issues.

Encourage people to speak up

The strong correlation among support and advice behaviour and attitude and suicide is difficult to determine. Seeking support and trying to address pressures and anxieties early, on the contrary hand, it is universally accepted that it is the healthiest way to help prevent problems from worsening. Seeing a doctor or talking to a therapist is a good place to start.

People may believe that mental disorder is indeed a symptom of weakness, or even that stress or depression are made up. Suicide is a critical health problem with long-term implications for individuals and families. However, it is true that suicide can be avoided. Suicide prevention necessitates approaches at all of society’s levels. Prevention and protection practices for people, relatives, and community members are included. Understanding the early symptoms, publicizing preventative measures and persistence, and committing to social change can all help to prevent suicide.

Suicide prevention 

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