Print

Sadag Urgent Press Release - World Suicide Prevention Day Creating Hope Through Action (08 September 2023)


According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), every day should be World Suicide Prevention Day, especially after the recent teen suicide attempts that have been reported in the press and media. The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) has marked the 10th of September as World Suicide Prevention Day, and the global theme is “Creating Hope Through Action”, this is a message that SADAG feels is more important now than ever – for anyone who feels helpless or hopeless - that there is always hope, there is always help!

‘Creating Hope Through Action’ is a reminder that there is help towards suicide prevention and that our actions, no matter how big or small, may provide hope to those who are struggling. We can act by reaching out to someone who may be in distress, encouraging understanding around the issue, and having the courage to start conversations about Suicide. Through our actions, we can also let people experiencing suicidal thoughts know that there is hope and that we want to support them.

SADAG runs the country’s only Suicide Crisis Helplines providing free telephone counselling & emergency crisis intervention for callers from across the country, from all provinces, ages, races, genders, socio-economic backgrounds and religions. With 1 in 4 calls to SADAG being Suicide related, and sadly the majority of callers are aged between 19 – 35 years old.

“Depression doesn’t discriminate, it can affect anyone, anywhere, and any age. The leading cause of Suicide is undiagnosed or untreated Depression – so the first step to helping to prevent Suicide, is the early-identification of symptoms, encouraging people to get help, and linking people to care, treatment and support,” says Psychiatrist, Psychologist and SADAG Board Member, Dr Frans Korb.

Sometimes we don’t always have the language or courage to have a tough conversation about Suicide – for World Suicide Prevention Day, SADAG will be dedicating the month of September to helping parents, teachers, family, friends, colleagues and the community with the skills, tools and language to help have more conversations around Mental Illness and Suicide Prevention and share different ways to check-in and support someone who may be struggling.

Cassey Chambers, SADAG Operations Director, “Despite the taboo and fear around Suicide, people are afraid if they talk about Suicide, it could “plant the seed”. But by normalising conversations around Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, we make it more comfortable to talk about these important issues in our homes, at work, with our family and friends – and more importantly, with people who need support and help.”

Chris de Bruin, Survivor of Suicide, “It took a therapist to show me that I can overcome those feelings of despair, and a supportive family and friends who helped me through my recovery. My message to anyone who feels like I once felt - Reach out to SADAG, find someone that you can speak to, even if it is just 1 person so that you know that you are not alone.”

Throughout the month, SADAG will be encouraging “HOPE THROUGH ACTION” through various activations and recommendations:
1. Kindness Outreach – Do acts of kindness throughout the month to show you care and offer support by checking in with a loved one, offering to spend time together and chat, offering a compliment, helping someone in need or sharing a smile to someone who is having a bad day
2. Break the stigma – by sharing info, normalising critical conversations, and encouraging people to open up.
3. Join the Conversation – Join SADAG’s weekly “Ask the Expert” Facebook LIVE (@TheSADAG) every Friday at 1 pm, as we talk about how to have tough conversations, Suicide Language – how we talk about Suicide matters, what to do after a Suicide Attempt and Teen Suicide Prevention
4. Hope in Action – Join the online #HaveHope awareness campaign through SADAG’s social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok) helping us to flood social media with Hope. By sharing messages of hope and support to anyone feeling sad, depressed, alone or isolated. Follow SADAG or visit www.sadag.org for more info

If you or a loved one are feeling helpless, lonely, or having recurring thoughts of Suicide or death, contact SADAG’s toll-free 24-hour Suicide Helpline 0800 567 567, which provides free counselling available 7 days a week. To chat online, WhatsApp a counsellor on 076 882 2775 from 8 am to 5 pm or SMS 31393 and a counsellor will call you back. For more information, resources, toolkits, videos, and support, visit www.sadag.org for more resources.

Together we can prevent Suicides.