September: National Suicide Prevention Month
By: MarÃa Paula MarÃn
10 B
It is known that suicide is a delicate subject; nevertheless, it shouldn’t remain unspoken. Even though September has been chosen as the month of suicide prevention, it is never too late or too early to bring awareness. On average, one person commits suicide every 16.2 minutes; yet there isn’t enough spoken regarding the topic. As a matter of fact, September is the month in which mental health organizations reach out to those affected by it, raise awareness, and connect individuals with suicidal treatment services. Discussing openly about the problem might not seem like the solution; however, it has been medically and scientifically proven to be one, if not the most, effective pointer. It is common to believe that helping someone who’s going through a suicidal crisis without having the required academic preparation can be harmful. Nonetheless, people who go through these hardships feel alone and unworthy; therefore asking them openly about the issue and showing interest makes them realize that they are in fact worthy and that they do have a chance of overpowering the situation.
Moreover, suicidal crises can be different for every individual, some might be open about the situation and some might not; sometimes the quietest people are the loudest ones asking for help. A guidance can be through signs of depression such as: mood swings, loss of interest, anxiety, hopelessness, insomnia, loss of appetite, weight gain or weight loss, social distancing, death wishes, etc. It’s common to ask people how they are when saluting them, but we rarely receive an honest response, with that being said try to always aim for a genuine response. The worst thing we could do is regretting or asking ourselves what would have happened if we had asked just one more time how that person was feeling. Begin to take action, watch out for signs of depression, reach out to family members and friends, and most importantly, do not ignore the situation.
Taking action can begin by simply demonstrating interest and accompanying the person to get through this hardship. If you ever witness someone struggling with mental health, make them know that you’re there for them; do not make them feel pressured to tell you their issues, instead, make them aware about the fact that you’re there to listen and that you care. People who deal with suicidal crises aren’t trying to end their life because they don't appreciate it; they’re trying to end with their sorrow. You’ll never know how much listening to someone and making them feel worthy can impact their perspective of life. If you ever come across someone who’s feeling suicidal try seeking out for professional help or suicidal hotlines, make them write down a list of important people in their life so they always know who to turn to, drive them away from objects that might cause self-harm, don´t leave them alone, and call 911 if necessary.
We all have our ups and downs but sometimes it’s much more than that. It’s okay to ask for help, mental struggles are just as important as any other body illness. Your mental health or a loved ones’ can never be taken too seriously. Whether the weight of a long-term struggle or a crisis weighs you down, allow friends, family or a professional to lighten the burden by finding support. Remember that everyone is affected by suicide, not just the victim. Suicide impacts family and friends long after the loss of a loved one. Finally, the best way of preventing suicide is by educating yourself and reading testimonies of survivors or the testimonies of relatives and friends who’ve lost a loved one. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, this years’ suicide prevention month may be the most important ever. People are going through so much right now, the least we can do is check up on them.