Have a Mental Health First Aider in your corner
This is the second year that the WSPD theme is “Working Together to Prevent Suicide”. The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) have chosen this theme as it highlights the most essential ingredient for effective global suicide prevention- collaboration. We all have a role to play and together we can collectively address the challenges presented by suicidal behaviour in society today. On September 10th, Barts Health will be joined by many others across the world who are playing their part in the prevention of suicide.
Every year, suicide is among the top 20 leading causes of death globally for people of all ages. It is responsible for over 800,000 deaths, which equates to one suicide every 40 seconds. Every life lost represents someone’s partner, child, parent, friend or colleague. For each suicide approximately 135 people suffer intense grief or are otherwise affected. This amounts to 108 million people per year who are profoundly impacted by suicidal behaviour. Suicidal behaviour includes suicide, and also encompasses suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. For every suicide, 25 people make a suicide attempt and many more have serious thoughts of suicide.
Suicide is the result of a convergence of genetic, psychological, social and cultural and other risk factors, sometimes combined with experiences of trauma and loss. These challenges can be overcome by adopting a multilevel and cohesive approach to suicide prevention. https://www.iasp.info/wspd2019/wspd-brochure/
We do not need to be experts in mental health in order to have a conversation regarding mental health. However, the way in which we talk about suicide can, unintentionally, be stigmatising and upsetting to people who have attempted to take their own life or have been bereaved by suicide. The language people use to talk about suicide often stems from its historical treatment. The word ‘commit’ in reference to suicide comes from a time when suicide was treated as a crime. However, The Suicide Act 1961 decriminalised the act of suicide in the UK – yet the term remains very much in common usage. The more we can use language that accurately and sensitively describes suicide in a thoughtful and compassionate way, the more we encourage a healthy and respectful way to talk about suicide.
Have a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in your corner, if you need to contact a MHFA email them at mhfa.bartshealth@nhs.net or alternatively ‘look for a star’, approach a MHFA wearing this badge to have a conversation.
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