5 Things we can all do to help stop suicide…
This year plucking the subject of suicide out of the shadows feels more urgent than ever. Suicide claims the lives of 126 people in the U.K. every week and remains the biggest killer of men under 45 in the country. The rate for females under 25 has increased by 93.8% since 2012 to its highest level according to the Samaritans. In defiance of the efforts of many, suicide is on the rise. As we adjust to the long term effects of Covid-19 including the fallout both mentally and economically this figure will undoubtedly accelerate under the pressure. As a society we must re-focus to combat these new threats. Despite this, there has never been more hope on the horizon for those in need of help.
The past 10 years have shown groundbreaking, effective treatment methods for suicidal individuals. If we can intervene and get people the help they need, we can save lives. We can begin to do this by taking even a short amount of time to educate ourselves. In this blog, we offer five steps that we can all take to make a difference when it comes to stopping suicide.
1. Remove the stigma
The first thing we can all do to help prevent suicide is talk about it. No person in a suicidal state or struggling with any mental health issue should have to feel silenced or shamed. The same is true for people who are worried about a friend or family member. They should know that they can reach out and make a difference. Too often, people are afraid to bring up the subject of suicide, fearing that they’ll be wrong or “put the idea in someone’s head.” This is a big misconception. People need to talk about suicide and open the doors of communication to those suffering with suicidal thoughts. These individuals need to know that they are not alone, and that there is an entire community who is there, who can relate, and who will support them in the hardest of times.
We can get more involved in this community and break the silence by taking actions like participating in a charity walk with your family, housemates or a socially distanced walk with someone in your ´bubble´. Your walk can be as adventurous as you´d like (walking your dog, or a 20 mile hike!). Find out how to get involved: here. Most importantly, we can educate ourselves on warning signs, helper tasks and resources, so we feel empowered as opposed to helpless when it comes to facing the issue of suicide. Removing the stigma is essential to provide help and resources to those families or friends who have lost a loved one to suicide. We need to make them feel comfortable to seek support.
2. Learn the warning signs
One of the most common questions we hear about suicide is, “How can I tell if a person is suicidal?” There are many warning signs for suicide that we can all look out for when we think someone may be in trouble. These can include isolating oneself or perceiving oneself as a burden which can cause a suicidal individual to withdraw, and therefore, we may be less inclined to notice what that person is going through. By getting to know these warning signs, we can be more aware, ask more questions, and intervene more quickly when someone needs our help.
Warning Signs for Suicide Can Include:
Disturbed sleep patterns
Anxiety, agitation
Pulling away from friends and family
Past attempts
Extremely self-hating thoughts
Feeling like they don’t belong
Hopelessness
Rage and irritability
Feeling trapped
Increased use of alcohol or drugs
Feeling that they are a burden to others
Loss of interest in activities—“nothing matters”
Giving up on themselves
Risk-taking behaviour
Suicidal thoughts, plans, actions
Sudden mood changes for the better
For adolescents and teenagers, check out this helpful video from: The Mayo Clinic.
3. Learn how to reach out and connect
When we think someone may be suicidal, we can learn ways to reach out and show we care. Everyone can learn the helper tasks that can save a life. Just like CPR, there are a set of steps we can follow to help a suicidal person. One method is known as QPR: question, persuade, and refer. Training in QPR is available online as a one-hour course. Those trained are said to be better able to “recognize the warning signs of suicide, know how to offer hope and know how to get help and save a life.”
When we approach someone who’s suicidal, there are certain steps we should follow and ways we should engage. You can learn about these in more detail at PsychAlive.org. These steps include:
Engage – Engage the person at risk in a personable way, use eye contact, give your full attention, don’t act distracted.
Explore – Explore their situation from his or her point of view by encouraging the open expression of their personal concerns. Show that you want to understand their feelings.
Identify – Identify whether or not the person is currently thinking about suicide. Be direct, ask questions.
Inquire – If the person is indeed contemplating suicide, you need to inquire into the reasons why these events and feelings are leading to a consideration of suicide at this time. Why now?
Assess – Use closed questions that require a yes/no answer. Be specific. The questions you ask at this point address the persons plan for suicide and information about prior suicidal behavior. Your assessment is a combination of gut feelings and an assessment of risk factors you have learned about.
In a situation where a person’s life is at stake, it is better to do too much than not enough. Help identify the personal strengths and opportunities that might orient him or her toward life. How did he or she solve serious problems previously? Be ready to speak for the side of them that wants to live.
After taking these steps, we can help that person make a plan of action or safety plan to help keep them safe. There is now a Safety Plan App that individuals can download to their mobile devices to help them take steps to stay safe when they’re in crisis.
Learn more about helper tasks at PsychAlive.org
4. Know the resources
Anyone who is suicidal or who is worried about someone who may be suicidal should know of certain resources that are available. RJVN8 can support individuals to receive the help they need. If you are in doubt about your or a friend´s mental state give our first responders a call on 02039504259 and we will take care of you!
Other resources include:
– Crisis Text Line
There is a 24/7 Crisis Text Line available, where you can text trained crisis counselors. The text line is free and confidential and can be reached by texting “GO” TO 741741.
– Samaritans Help Line
There is a 24/7 Line available. The text line is free and confidential and can be reached by calling 116 123
– Papyrus Help Line
Are you, or is a young person you know, not coping with life? For confidential suicide prevention advice contact HOPELINE UK. There is a line available from 9am-12am every day of the year on 08000684141
– APPS
There are many APPS available that have been created to help people access the resources and tools they need when they’re in distress. These include: ASK and Prevent Suicide, Suicide Crisis Support, Virtual Hope Box, and My3 Safety Plan App.
5. Training (for mental health professionals and anyone who provides health care)
Most practicing psychotherapists see five suicidal clients a month, while one in four therapists will lose a client to suicide. Yet, the majority of mental health professionals have not received sufficient training in dealing with a suicidal client, having been provided limited information that often doesn’t meet the current standard of care. This year, my team and I at The Glendon Association, produced an online course “Suicide: What Mental Health Professionals Need to Know” in order to make in-depth, state of the art training easily accessible to professionals.
In the past decade, there has been a wealth of insightful and essential data revealing what works when it comes to treating suicidal people. Dr. David Jobes is at the forefront of this research. His Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality, CAMS approach, developed over 25 years, is one of few suicide specific, empirically validated methods for treating suicidal individuals and has been proven to be highly effective in a variety of clinical settings with a range of suicidal clients. You can learn more about Dr. Jobes’ approach in the PsychAlive Webinar “Preventing Suicide: Treatments that Work.”
By accessing and sharing the essential information that is readily available on suicide, we can all do our part to help people get the help they need when they need it. We can end the stigma and help save lives from senselessly being lost to suicide.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS IN CRISIS OR IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE HELP, CALL RJVN8 on 02039504259 and SAMARITANS ON 116 123
This is a free hotline available 24 hours a day to anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.
