Despite many people fearing that talking about it will plant ideas in the minds of vulnerable people, suicide is on the rise
Sticking our heads in the sand about suicide doesn’t make it go away, in fact, it could be on the rise, as the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) reports receiving over 41 800 suicide calls since January 2019.
SADAG runs the only suicide crisis helpline in the country and receives hundreds of calls every day from people who feel that suicide is the only option they have.
“From the calls we have received to the suicide helplines over the last eight months, the main contributing factors for someone feeling suicidal include relationship issues, financial problems and trauma. But still, the main contributing factor is undiagnosed and untreated depression,” says SADAG’s Operations Director, Cassey Chambers.
The passings of radiant young South African musician, Kathryn Swain, who died by suicide at the age of 25, local singer Nichume Siwundla, and Ian Visser, a Grade 12 boy who took his own life in Pretoria, are some of the recent suicides we have seen in the news. However, there are so many more people who die by suicide, who don’t make headlines.
These suicides, as well as the alarming figures from the suicide helpline, highlights the urgent need to share information on suicide prevention.
A taboo and sometimes ignored topic
“Suicide is still a very taboo topic in our current society – no one wants to talk about, no one knows how to talk about it, and parents don’t want to talk to their children about it, in case it ‘plants ideas’. However, suicide is a very real issue in South Africa and we can see that by the increasing number of calls we are receiving every day to the suicide helpline from people all over the country,” says Chambers.
Do you know the warning signs?
SADAG urges families, parents, loved ones and colleagues to take every suicide mention, threat or attempt seriously.
“Over 75% of people who die by suicide tell someone first – it is so important to know the warning signs so you can identify when someone you care about needs urgent help,” says psychiatrist and psychologist Dr Frans Korb.
Warning signs may include the following:
- Changes in eating and sleeping habits
- Loss of interest in usual activities
- Neglect of personal appearance or hygiene
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Running away from home
- Alcohol and substance abuse
- Unnecessary risk-taking behaviour
- Obsession with death and dying
- Numerous physical complaints linked to emotional distress
- Feelings of boredom, agitation, nervousness, sadness, loneliness or hopelessness
Every day people around the country get up and pretend everything is okay, yet inside they feel overwhelmed, are desperate and not coping.
Many people have no access to mental health treatment or care, or don’t know where to even begin to get the help they need, besides the stigma that prevents people from speaking up and getting help, until it is too late.
If you are suffering from depression and don’t know where to turn, please call the SADAG suicide helpline on 0800 567 567 for free telephone counselling, information, crisis intervention and referrals to resources countrywide. They are open and available seven days a week, 365 days a year.
It’s never too late to seek help – there is always help! There is always hope!
Source: South African Depression and Anxiety Group & Teen Suicide Prevention Week
Name of the Publication: All4Women
Title of the article: We need to talk about Suicide
Topic: Suicide
Date: 10 September 2019
Author: PRESS
Online link: https://www.all4women.co.za/1840587/health/healthy-mind/why-we-need-to-talk-about-suicide
