Be kind and prevent suicide.
On the 10th of September every year, organisations around the world join together to raise awareness around suicide prevention.
In 2019, there were 5,691 suicides registered in England and Wales, with 75% being male, aged from 45 to 49 years old.*
In this new era, where ‘keeping your distance’ is promoted and distractions and hobbies are limited, many of us may be predisposed to depression.
Several factors may contribute to thoughts of suicide:
There are many things that could potentially contribute to suicidal thoughts and it is worth taking time to educate ourselves on what these factors could be. This will help us to take care of ourselves and others:
- Loss of a loved one;
- Feeling lonely;
- Substance abuse;
- Being bullied;
- Poor job security;
- Being physically or mentally abused;
- Family history of suicide.
Things to look out for
- Listen and read between the lines. Studies have found that one trait common to families affected by suicide is poor communication between parents and children. Start by asking questions to establish whether the person is in danger.
- Learn the warning signs. Statements such as: “Everyone would be better off without me” or “I wish I were dead” should be taken seriously.
- Seek professional help. There are a lot of organisations out there to help. Give them a call or get the information you need. Sometimes, it feels good to talk. http://www.suicide.org/hotlines/international/united-kingdom-suicide-hotlines.html , https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/suicide/
- Be kind and sensitive. It’s always easy to judge, criticize or be mean to someone. But remember that kindness eases anxiety, releases feel-good hormones and prevents illness. Smile and make someone’s day a little sweeter.
- Recommend exercise. Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative moods and improving self-esteem and cognitive function.
How you make others feel about themselves says a lot about you.
