International Suicide Prevention Day

Suicide prevention

Today, 10 September, is International Suicide Prevention Day.

This is usually a day on which the public is educated on the signs of someone who is suicidal. Also, people are encouraged to act immediately if they observe such signs. Furthermore, the public in informed of professionals and organisations that can assist in such cases.

This is crucial, because with greater awareness about this topic we can save many lives.  Importantly, many lives have already been saved because of initiatives and campaigns such as these.

At the same time though we need to be careful of the implicit message we send. Most importantly, to family members and friends of people who have taken their own lives.

Be sensitive

Think of the the concept of “prevention” and the study field of suicidology. In other words, the scientific study of suicide risks, signs, prevention etc. This may imply that suicide is always preventable, predictable and explainable.

While this sometimes may be true, it is not true for every single case.

Especially in children and adolescents. There may not have been a lead up to the suicide, but could have been be a very impulsive act.

Children and adolescents

The areas of the brain responsible for problem-solving, considering consequences, weighing up pro’s and con’s of a decision etc, are not fully developed yet. Because of this, youngsters often take unnecessary risks and land up in more trouble that they can handle.

They may be faced with a situation that feels overwhelming. The source of this may be external, internal or self-induced. In that moment they may not see any other option but to take their own lives.

Family and friends of people who have taken their own lives will often beat themselves up for not having seen any signs, when in fact there were none! Some of them live a lifetime with this guilt.

Many family members and friends will still look for logical answers and explanations years after the suicide while, from an outside perspective, there will never be a logical answer or explanation.

Action!

Let’s take part in the initiative of educating people about suicide signs, risks factors and prevention. However, at the same time, let’s also include in this process the awareness that sometimes there may be no warning signs. And above all, let’s support the people who stayed behind after a suicide.