September: Suicide Prevention Month

September is Suicide Prevention Month. With individuals’ mental health slowly deteriorating all around the world, awareness needs to be raised now more than ever.

Tragic suicidal acts tend to come after long battles with depression, anxiety, self-doubt and sometimes even trauma.

Anyone, regardless of their age, gender or background, can experience suicidal thoughts, just like people with mental health disorders. Consequently, mental illness that goes untreated frequently contributes to suicide.

Although it is something that occurs commonly, thoughts of suicide should not be taken lightly and considered normal because they frequently point to more serious problems.

Awareness on suicide attempts to shift public perception and change the growing stigma around suicide and mental health.

Uda Gawachab, a registered social worker from the Health Professional Council of Namibia, said: “There isn’t a fixed way of how to deal with trauma and suicidal patients. For example, the way I will treat a rape patient is not the same way I will treat a car accident patient.”

She continued that it is important for individuals who have been through traumatic experiences to visit a psychologist or even a social worker.

According to the World Health Organisation, suicide is not something that can be stopped or avoided single-handedly; however, here are some ideas on how to prevent it:

Limit access to means of suicide (eg pesticides, firearms, certain medications);

Interact with the media for responsible reporting of suicide;

Foster socio-emotional life skills in adolescents;

Identify, assess, manage and follow up with anyone who is affected by suicidal behaviour.

Alternatively, these need can be accompanied through analysing the situation, raising awareness and constant surveillance and monitoring of individuals.

Suicide prevention is a joint effort that requires the input and co-operation of different departments such as the health industry, which plays a vital role in the support of prevention as well as the education sector and the media which contributes to spreading the word and educating and informing the masses.

These efforts must be comprehensive and integrated as no single approach alone can make an impact on an issue as complex as suicide.

In a report by The Namibian earlier in the year, ministry of health and social services statistics showed that country's suicide rate between January 2021 and May 2022 stood at 679, comprising 559 men, 91 women and 29 children (18 boys and 11 girls).

According to the World Health Organisation, “more than 700 000 people die due to suicide every year. For every suicide, there are many more people who attempt suicide. A prior suicide attempt is the single most important risk factor for suicide in the general population”.

About 77% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries. Common ways of suicide discovered include ingestion of pesticide and dangerous chemicals as well as shooting and hanging, which are among the most common methods of suicide globally.

To individuals fighting suicidal thoughts, healing is important and understanding your pain is critical. Once you understand your pain and you learn to love yourself through your pain, you heal faster and encourage others around you to move on from it as well. However, it is just as important to tap into your emotions and grieve and take the time to get over what has upset you.