Suicide Awareness Day - 10th September 2018.
Sensitive Post
On the 10th September 2018, I had to opportunity to attend some training on Suicide Prevention.
Some of you reading this may have already read my previous post called 'A Happy Face in a Darker Place' and will know that this is something I feel strongly about.
I had already done a lot of research prior to the training on suicide prevention and general statistics but I was extremely taken back by what I had learned in the training.
Before reading this, if you have been effected by anyone with suicidal thoughts, has committed suicide or have been in a suicidal position yourself please ensure you are supported and in a position to read on as this may be emotionally distressing.
So I am going to share with you what I learnt and how we can all benefit from this further. Please read on in order to help prevent suicide.
The UK has a goal to ensure that by 2020 the figure for suicide is 0! So how can we participate in helping people live the lives they deserve?
Every time a person commits suicide it not only effects that individual, but an average of 20 other people are effected by the individuals suicide. A suicide can make an average of 20 people emotionally distressed, depressed and can have a negative impact on the rest of their lives. So, by preventing 1 suicide we can help an average of 21 people not to experience the effects.
Sadly, we are living in a world where even doctors cannot recognize if a person is suicidal, (unless of course the individual opens up). However, people tend to keep these things to themselves meaning no one really knows when or if a person will commit suicide, making it even more important to learn how we can recognize or help someone who may be thinking about it. Please read on.
What we know
In 2016, there were 800,000 suicidal deaths around the world, 6,000 being within the UK. We want to make sure this figure is 0 by 2020.
80% of a Males death is by suicide. Lets just take a moment to think about this figure... 80%..., this means that the leading cause of deaths are because people want to die. Now, when learning this my heart sank, that means that suicide comes before cancer, heart disease road traffic accidents and more.
Suicide is higher in social economic areas.
Statistics show that middle aged men are 3 times more likely to commit suicide than anyone else. Usually, the leading cause for this is marriage breakdowns.
Now this next fact hit me like a tonne of bricks...
The most cases in A&E are due to self harm in 10 year old's - Did you know that there are actually apps made which promote and encourage self harm and suicide? This really made me think, how can a 10 year old want to end their lives? What is going on for someone who is still developing to want to hurt themselves? This breaks my heart to think that there are people out there making apps to promote self harming and that children are taking part in this.
For two decades, suicide in women has been the highest ever.
Each individual that commits suicide, as of a working aged adult, costs the economy £1.7 million.
The above are just a few facts to get to grips with how bad suicide is effecting people. So what can we now do? We need to realize that suicide is preventable.
Suicide IS preventable
How?
People feel that asking an individual 'Are you suicidal?' is difficult, and yes it is. But asking someone who you may think is suicidal the question 'Are you suicidal?' does not cause harm or put that thought into someone's head.
It is important to understand that suicidal thoughts are only temporary and actually last for an average of 15 minutes. So what can we do to help?
Step 1 - See
We need to recognize if an individual is acting differently than normal. If a person is depressed or suicidal you will notice that something is not quite right.
Step 2 - Say
If you suspect that someone in work, at home, school or anywhere else is acting different, says something concerning or is concerning you then make time in private as soon as possible to ask directly how they are, tell them you feel that something is not right and you care about them and want to help them. In most cases, there is something up and showing you care will allow the individual to open up to you.
If the individual does open up to you, don't be afraid to ask 'Are you feeling suicidal?'. Remember this does not put the thought in their head.
Step 3 - Sign Post
Help the individual to stay safe. Have a plan in place and be ready to help them, make time for them, think ahead and show you care.
It may be that you need to take the individual to A&E as they have a plan to commit suicide or in danger.
Did You Know - People who have tried to commit suicide in the past are 100 times more likely to die by suicide.
Do you know someone who in the past has tried? If so, be there for them always.
It is sad that the self harm rates have increased and I want people to realize that their lives are valued and they have a purpose to live.
Please, lets help people see life is worth living.
If you are suffering with suicidal thoughts please tell someone and download the app 'Hub of Hope'. This app is available to help you.
Finally, please visit the following website:
https://www.zerosuicidealliance.com/ and look at the many examples of people who were in a situation and how their life got better!
Please take a moment to watch this 1 minute video:
Thank you for reading this post.
Because one life lost is one too many.
On the 10th September 2018, I had to opportunity to attend some training on Suicide Prevention.
Some of you reading this may have already read my previous post called 'A Happy Face in a Darker Place' and will know that this is something I feel strongly about.
I had already done a lot of research prior to the training on suicide prevention and general statistics but I was extremely taken back by what I had learned in the training.
Before reading this, if you have been effected by anyone with suicidal thoughts, has committed suicide or have been in a suicidal position yourself please ensure you are supported and in a position to read on as this may be emotionally distressing.
So I am going to share with you what I learnt and how we can all benefit from this further. Please read on in order to help prevent suicide.
The UK has a goal to ensure that by 2020 the figure for suicide is 0! So how can we participate in helping people live the lives they deserve?
Every time a person commits suicide it not only effects that individual, but an average of 20 other people are effected by the individuals suicide. A suicide can make an average of 20 people emotionally distressed, depressed and can have a negative impact on the rest of their lives. So, by preventing 1 suicide we can help an average of 21 people not to experience the effects.
Sadly, we are living in a world where even doctors cannot recognize if a person is suicidal, (unless of course the individual opens up). However, people tend to keep these things to themselves meaning no one really knows when or if a person will commit suicide, making it even more important to learn how we can recognize or help someone who may be thinking about it. Please read on.
What we know
In 2016, there were 800,000 suicidal deaths around the world, 6,000 being within the UK. We want to make sure this figure is 0 by 2020.
80% of a Males death is by suicide. Lets just take a moment to think about this figure... 80%..., this means that the leading cause of deaths are because people want to die. Now, when learning this my heart sank, that means that suicide comes before cancer, heart disease road traffic accidents and more.
Suicide is higher in social economic areas.
Statistics show that middle aged men are 3 times more likely to commit suicide than anyone else. Usually, the leading cause for this is marriage breakdowns.
Now this next fact hit me like a tonne of bricks...
The most cases in A&E are due to self harm in 10 year old's - Did you know that there are actually apps made which promote and encourage self harm and suicide? This really made me think, how can a 10 year old want to end their lives? What is going on for someone who is still developing to want to hurt themselves? This breaks my heart to think that there are people out there making apps to promote self harming and that children are taking part in this.
For two decades, suicide in women has been the highest ever.
Each individual that commits suicide, as of a working aged adult, costs the economy £1.7 million.
The above are just a few facts to get to grips with how bad suicide is effecting people. So what can we now do? We need to realize that suicide is preventable.
Suicide IS preventable
How?
People feel that asking an individual 'Are you suicidal?' is difficult, and yes it is. But asking someone who you may think is suicidal the question 'Are you suicidal?' does not cause harm or put that thought into someone's head.
It is important to understand that suicidal thoughts are only temporary and actually last for an average of 15 minutes. So what can we do to help?
Step 1 - See
We need to recognize if an individual is acting differently than normal. If a person is depressed or suicidal you will notice that something is not quite right.
Step 2 - Say
If you suspect that someone in work, at home, school or anywhere else is acting different, says something concerning or is concerning you then make time in private as soon as possible to ask directly how they are, tell them you feel that something is not right and you care about them and want to help them. In most cases, there is something up and showing you care will allow the individual to open up to you.
If the individual does open up to you, don't be afraid to ask 'Are you feeling suicidal?'. Remember this does not put the thought in their head.
Step 3 - Sign Post
Help the individual to stay safe. Have a plan in place and be ready to help them, make time for them, think ahead and show you care.
It may be that you need to take the individual to A&E as they have a plan to commit suicide or in danger.
Did You Know - People who have tried to commit suicide in the past are 100 times more likely to die by suicide.
Do you know someone who in the past has tried? If so, be there for them always.
It is sad that the self harm rates have increased and I want people to realize that their lives are valued and they have a purpose to live.
Please, lets help people see life is worth living.
If you are suffering with suicidal thoughts please tell someone and download the app 'Hub of Hope'. This app is available to help you.
Finally, please visit the following website:
https://www.zerosuicidealliance.com/ and look at the many examples of people who were in a situation and how their life got better!
Please take a moment to watch this 1 minute video:
Because one life lost is one too many.
Very Powerful. Thanks Sarah! I'll be sure to look at your next post :)
ReplyDeleteWhen i was in my 20s, I had a few years where I spent a lot of my time considering suicide, but thankfully I had a frw good friends of various ages, who showed me love and kindness and that helped make sure I didn't actallly act on my feelings so I greatfull that Sarah and others are making their voices heard about this subject because the more it's in the open the more support we can give and receive. Thanks Sarah
ReplyDelete