‘Connect, Communicate and Care’ is the World Health
Organisation (WHO) theme for the 2016 World Suicide Prevention Day. The theme
is apt because most psychologists would agree and emphasise upon bonding with
your loved ones (connect), opening up about your worries and fears
(communicate), and identifying the changed behaviour of those around you and
taking care of them (care) – the the three factors that are the most vital in
combating suicides.
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WHO estimates state that over 8,00,000 people die by suicide
every year, while the suicide attempt figures are almost 25 times this number.
According to Miriam Sequeira, the causes of suicide differ according to the
age-group the person belongs to. “For teenagers, it’s the study-related and
relationship issues that make them suicidal. Those in their 40s often suffer
mid-life crisis and it’s the clinical depression caused by the likes of job
problems, worry over children and failure of retirement plans that lead to
suicide. Most of the elderly people are forced to kill themselves due to
loneliness or some chronic illness. However, all people who choose to end their
lives do so because they feel that there is no other solution to their
problems. It’s the hopelessness about the future that makes them commit
suicide,” Miriam explains.
She stresses on the fact that most of the cases of suicide
aren’t impulsive. People do show hints of their depression much before they
take this extreme action, and it’s upon the immediate friends and family of the
person to not take these signs lightly, and talk to them about their problems,
also taking medical help if required. She further adds, “As a society, it’s
important for us to create an environment where nobody should be shy or
uncomfortable to speak about their worries or insecurities. This awareness has
to start from the schools itself.”
Cooj Mental Health Foundation has taken upon itself to
create awareness about mental health and suicide prevention, since 2012. After
starting a helpline for the same in 2013, they initiated area-specific Cooj
Suicide Prevention Campaigns. This year, the area they have decided to cover is
Vasco. Donna Noronha, the coordinator of Cooj Suicide Prevention Programme,
speaks about it, saying, “Our initiative ‘Yellow Vasco’ that will be
inaugurated today will include tie-ups with various NGOs to create an awareness
about prevention of suicide in the schools and colleges here. It will include
debunking the myths about this ailment, and telling people that suicide, like many
other mental problems, is a preventable issue. We would also inculcate hospital
visits in the campaign to address those who have attempted suicide and those
who are thinking about it. Our aim is to reach out to as many people as we can,
train more people to take care of those with suicidal tendencies, and
ultimately trying to reduce the number of suicides, thus promoting mental
health.”
For Donna, awareness is the key to preventing suicidal
tendencies. She also believes that young people commit suicide as they lack
life skills and thus aren’t able to face their problems. “Today’s lifestyle is
very materialistic and I feel that parents aren’t able to give enough time to
impart the necessary strength and skills required to survive in this big bad
world. The lack of coping skills is what makes these youngsters lose hope and
in turn choose to end their problems by ending their lives,” she expresses.
Miriam mentions that parents and teachers usually refrain
from talking to their children about suicide, thinking that it might plant
these ideas in their heads. “It’s a misconception. They will hear about this
from some source or another, so it’s better if the parents and teachers create
awareness about this among youngsters. The only thing they should be careful
about is that they shouldn’t talk about the methods of committing suicide but
focus only on the preventive aspect. WHO has specified guidelines even for
media houses on how to report the news of suicide without mentioning the
method,” she maintains.
“People who feel suicidal don’t share these thoughts as they
think they are alone,” states Miriam. She opines that, “If these people realise
that there are many people who feel like them and that it’s possible to
overcome these thoughts, we would be able to stop many people from ending their
lives.” Donna too seconds this as she concludes, “Mental health is still a
stigma. The gap is being bridged slowly and we hope that if more people care
about this issue and work towards awareness of suicide prevention, it will be
possible to bring a stop to this menace called suicide.”
