Trigger Warning – Please note this blog post is regarding the topic of suicide.
This Sunday 10 September 2023 is World Suicide Prevention Day. A day where globally we come together with the aim of raising awareness of suicide and suicide prevention. This is such an important topic and through raising awareness of it we can make sure that people who need help and support have access to it.
It is completely understandable this may be a really difficult topic to think or talk about, but it’s a conversation that is needed.
Whilst many people may already be aware of what the word suicide means, it is still important we take the time to remind ourselves alongside the reasons why people are experiencing such thoughts. Suicide is the act of intentionally taking your own life. This can often be a result of having thoughts such as “the world would be better off without me” or that "things just won’t get better". These can be scary thoughts for anyone to experience.
There are many things throughout life that could lead to someone feeling suicidal such as isolation, discrimination, financial and employment issues, trauma, struggle to adjust to life changes, abuse, and relationships ending.
Here are some statistics from recent studies…
115 people die by suicide in the UK every week
1 in 5 people have suicidal thoughts
1 in 15 people attempt suicide
Males aged 45-49 have the highest suicide rate
So what can we do as a society to help?
One such thing is through supporting the people around us and noticing the signs that may be there when someone is struggling or considering taking their own life. Some things that can be helpful to look out for can include…
- A noticeable drop towards taking care of themselves
- Giving away possessions or once cherished items
- Diet worsening
- Self-harming
- Avoiding people/seeming less sociable
- Self-loathing
- Seeming very down
Whilst these may help to spot the signs in some circumstances, we also want to say that it’s important to remember these signs won’t be guaranteed for every person. Someone might seem absolutely fine on the outside but the opposite on the inside. This is why regular checks to see how people around you are doing are so important. Sometimes a simple “Hey! How are you?” and showing you care can make a world of difference.
Additionally, normalising seeking help and support for mental health can be a big help. For example, the more people talk openly about how they been going to see a counsellor to talk about their mental health, the more others may see that and feel “Oh that sounds great, maybe I should do the same”. It removes some of the dangerous stigmas surrounding mental health support that are unfortunately seen far too much.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts and worry about talking to the people around you for support, you are
not alone. We at Burton and District Mind are here for you. We have many different services and means of support that could help you.
For example, some of our fantastic Peer Support Options…
Peer support can be great because you are in a safe, judgement-free environment with people who may be experiencing thoughts and feelings to yourself. Through this, you can have an outlet to talk to people about any struggles, whilst also helping one another! We have several different options available for this, both in person and virtually if that is something you’d prefer.
You can find more information here -> https://www.burtonmind.co.uk/adult-support-groups
We also have lots of other helpful services too, all of which you can find more information about on our website! So why not have a quick look through once you have finished this blog post.
Please remember you are not alone. There is help available.
If you are in need of immediate support, our office may be closed over the weekend but our Safe Haven is still open – More information about that can be found here -> https://www.burtonmind.co.uk/safehaven
Once our office is open again, you can get in touch through the methods found here -> https://www.burtonmind.co.uk/contact-us
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