Suicide: Tough Conversations

Every 40 seconds someone dies by suicide! Over 800,000 people die each year by suicide! Suicide is the second leading cause of death for those individuals between the ages 15-29! (WHO, 2020). It is important to note that Suicide is a lot more than just numbers, statistics, and facts!

Suicide is a complex issue involving numerous factors and should not be attributed to any one single cause. Not all people who die by suicide have been diagnosed with a mental illness and not all people with a mental illness attempt to end their lives by suicide.

People who experience suicidal thoughts and feelings are suffering with tremendous emotional pain. People who have died by suicide typically had overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, despair, and helplessness. Suicide is not about a moral weakness or a character flaw. People considering suicide feel as though their pain will never end and that suicide is the only way to stop the suffering.

Many factors and circumstances can contribute to someone’s decision to end their life. Factors such as loss, addictions, trauma, depression, serious physical illness, and major life changes can make some people feel overwhelmed and unable to cope. It is important to remember that it isn’t necessarily the nature of the loss or stressor that is as important as the individual’s experience of these things feeling unbearable.

World Suicide Awareness Day is marked each year on September 10th. This is where we take a moment to reflect as a dignified, respectful, day to unite a community around a common cause, and beautifully celebrating the life of every individual that has been impacted by suicide. It is a healing day; and an opportunity for the community to come together and mourn as one!

Suicide prevention is all of our responsibility! By reducing the stigma through the language we use, and the support we offer those around us. Leave the judgement behind!

Let today be the start of each of us opening our ears (setting our cell phones down) and starting to truly listen to those around us! Listening does not mean you need to have all the answers; listening allows those that are struggling to know they are not alone! Connect them to someone who can continue to support them throughout this struggle: Here 24/7 & WRSPC provide free crisis services that you can access. Reach out: Know that you are not alone, and that you matter!