MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS: Understanding Suicide
Many statistical data reports tout Antigua and Barbuda as amongst the world’s countries with the lowest suicide rates, yet one death by suicide, is one too many. The state of the mental health of the country is often called into question when there is a report of a suspected suicide. Over the years, there have been many reports of suicide or attempted suicide in the country, particularly via hanging, seen in media reports regarding “a 2-year-old boy found
hanging in his home” to “a teenage girl attempting to hang herself from a tree” to “a man hanging in his home” to “a woman dying by suicide in her home.” Hearing the tragic news often leads to a sharp focus on mental health and can raise calls for the government to do more in the area of mental health, including dialogues on costs associated with persons seeking help. We especially see more attention paid to Suicide Awareness Month in
September.
Suicide can involve all ages, genders, socioeconomic status, ethnicity; in fact, there is no one specific demographic, as suicide rates vary by these factors. This calls into question, what can the average citizen do to make a difference to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health, as stigma is often the key barrier to seeking help. The answers are awareness and prevention.We can all play our part by being more proactive.
Where do we begin? Let’s start with AWARENESS.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Suicide is “death caused by injuring oneself with the intent to die. A suicide attempt is when someone harms themselves with any intent to end their life, but they do not die as a result of their actions.” Whereas suicidal ideation refers to “thinking about, considering, or planning suicide.” Being aware of these terms is the first step.
The next step is PREVENTION. Prevention begins with understanding the risk factors and warning signs. It is important to be aware of the risk factors in order to begin focusing on prevention. Some of the risk factors include financial problems, relationship problems, physical illness, mental illness, discrimination, social isolation, bullying, violence, abuse, and family history, to name a few. Understanding the risk factors can help you to better
understand the warning signs, which are key in prevention efforts. Some of the warning signs can include, but are not limited to, a preoccupation with death, saying goodbye, talking about suicide, having a plan with lethal means (guns, pills, hanging, etc.), feelings of hopelessness, and self-destructive behaviors, such as increased alcohol or drug use.
Once there is awareness and an understanding of the suicide risk factors and warning signs, we can recognize when our loved ones, family members, friends, and colleagues may be in need of our support. Instead of brushing off the challenges to their mental health, with statements like “there arepeople worse off than you,” “get over it,” “snap out of it,” or “you’re being selfish;” let them know that “it’s okay to not be okay,” that you are worried
about them and care, and most importantly, simply listen. Let’s not wait until September, let’s all be proactive together.