World Suicide Prevention Day
World Suicide Prevention Day is today, 10th September 2018 and this year the theme is Working Together to Prevent Suicide. LID Publishing is publishing Positive Male Mind: Overcoming Mental Health Problems on September 20th. We are offering an exclusive extract on suicide from the upcoming book and if you are looking for more information on WSPD, there are details listed below also.
Positive Male Mind by Dr Shaun Davis and Andrew Sharman
Suicide isn’t something that we really talk about much as a society, which is a concern because it is the leading cause of death among men aged 45 and under [UK Department of Health]/ in fact, more people die from suicide than from traffic accidents, according to the UK’s Samaritans charity group.
Suidice can be triggered by many different things, such as a long-term health condition or feelings or depression, hopelessness and despair associated with acute mental health problems. I the moment when you are suffering in this way, suicide might feel like the only option but clearly, there are other ways to regain control and achieve a positive outlook on life.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, it’s important to talk with someone, maybe a close friend or a relative, or perhaps a health professional or your doctor. There are lots of organisations you can talk to anonymously and in confidence.
Additionally, if you think someone close to you is suicidal, it is really important to act on your concerns.
- If you think it is appropriate, ask them if you can help
- Listen to them, without judgement or interruption
- Discuss your concerns or options in confidence with someone who can help you, such as a professional who is an expert in mental health
- If there is an immediate threat of suicide or serious self-harm, take the person to their local hospital’s Accident & Emergency department. Alternatively, call for emergency medical help. Even if the individual says they didn’t mean it, surely it is better to take the threat seriously and respond in an appropriate manner
Many people can be affected by suicide, especially family, friends and co-workers who are close to someone who has taken this final step. Here, your emotional reaction to bereavement following a suicide can often be more intense, complicated and prolonged than if death was by natural causes. It will likely consist of a range of feelings, including:
- Shock: Finding it hard to accept what has happened or the way it happened
- Confusion: Finding it difficult to reconcile or understad what led to such a final act
- Despair and sadness: A sense of hopelessness and intense sadness over what has happened that has the potential to lead to depression
- Anger: Directing anger towards the deceased, as inappropriate as this might feel, or their family or friends
- Blame: Feeling that you or those close to the deceased may have missed clues about the person’s intentions, and blaming yourself or others for not preventing the suicide
- Grief: These feelings will depend on the individual, their relatioship with the deceased and their previous experiences of bereavement, loss and suicide
- Guilt: A persistent feeling thta something might have been done to help the deceased, as well as reflecting on last conversations and interactionns, and searching for clues about how they are feeling
Each response to suicide is unique; some people may withdraw and find it hard to talk about what has happened, or prefer to deny what happened or how they’re feeling. Other people may need to talk aout their experiences. Whichever is best for those concerned, it is important tjhat you do what feels right for you and, where possible, keep talking and ask for support ad guidance as soon as you can.
Positive Male Mind by Dr Shaun Davis & Andrew Kinder is available from 20th September here.
More about World Suicide Prevention Day
World Suicide Prevention Day is today, 10th September 2018. It is an annual awareness-raising event organised by InternationalAssociation for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The 2017 theme was about connecting with others and letting people know that #ITSOKAYTOTALK. This year it is Working Together to Prevent Suicide.
The World Health Organization estimates that over 800,000 people take their own lives each year – that’s one person every 40 seconds. Up to 25 times as many again make a suicide attempt.
To go to the World Suicide Prevention Day website where you can read the official brochure in various languages, click here.
Join them in Cycling Around the Globe to raise awareness of the risks of suicide and to fund suicide prevention activities. We know that a person dies every 40 seconds by suicide and up to 25 times as many attempt suicide. There are also many more people who have been bereaved by suicide or have been close to someone who has made an attempt.
This World Suicide Prevention Day event is about our global community: to encourage us to engage with each other and to join together to spread awareness of suicide prevention. Click here to download Cycle, info, FAQ Sheets, Fundraising Programme Info, Sponsorship documents, Cycle Materials and more.
Click here to register and to submit distances pledged or click here to see distances pledged.
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