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What is Suicide?
Over the past few years, suicide has emerged as a
leading cause of death. Suicide is nothing new to
our society: it has manifested its ugly head
throughout the ages. Suicide is the intentional act
of killing oneself. The mere definition of the word
is not amusing. Few publications on the issue in
the Caribbean are available – yet, the CARICOM
is host to two countries which have been featured
in the world’s top ten suicide list for 2012, Guyana
and Suriname (Jamaica Observer, 2014). Research
has also shown that most suicide cases occur
among young people between the ages of 15 and 24.
This suggests that suicide is a growing problem in
our region and needs to be addressed
with practical, realistic advice that if followed, can
gradually reduce the acts of this evil. This article
is geared towards taking a more in-depth look at
suicide, particularly its causes, warning signs,
coping strategies and how to respond to someone
who may be suicidal.
Causes of suicide
Most people can put their problems in perspective
and find a way to carry on with hope. So why does
one person try suicide when another person in the
same tough situation does not?
Depression: this is the most common cause of
suicide amongst individuals. This is so, because
individuals become hopeless and have negative
beliefs while experiencing negative or pervasive
suffering. Depression leads people to focus mostly
on failures and disappointments, to emphasize the
negative side of their situations, and to downplay
their own capabilities or worth. Sufferers are
unable to see the possibility of a good outcome.
Psychosis: these individuals believe that they hear
malicious or evil voices persuading them to
commit suicide for intelligible reasons.
Being impulsive: this is mostly common in
alcoholics and drug addicts. When drunk or high,
they tend to be very emotional and impulsive and
are more likely to commit suicide.
Attention seekers: these individuals practice
suicidal threats to raise the attention of others that
something is seriously wrong with them, which
they believe is the only way to get their attention.
Sometimes, they have no intention of killing
themselves and may think that their suicidal
methods are harmless but unfortunately they are
misinformed. There are some cases where
individuals accidentally kill themselves.
Firstly, learn to recognize suicidal warning signs: Has your
friend talked about feeling hopeless or anxious? Have you
noticed a change in your friend's behaviour? Is he or she
acting dejected and showing signs of withdrawal? If this is
true with your friend then take heed, these are common
signs of suicide.
Life can be complicated and overwhelming at the best of
times, even more so when situations seem hopeless and
unfair. If your friend or family member is suspected to be
suicidal or mention their suicidal thoughts to you, take them
seriously. If you believe that they're in immediate danger,
without hesitation call the relevant authorities such as a
counsellor, a pastor or a social worker. You may think twice
before being so ‘drastic’, but remember that the person's life
is more important than their privacy at this stage. Even if a
friend or classmate swears you to secrecy, you must get help
as soon as possible. You may also take the following
approaches:
Initiate a non-judgmental dialogue: sit the person down
in a comfortable environment where the two of you can
talk privately - not somewhere isolated, just a place that
is comfortable and familiar. Start by telling them how
much you care about them and how their unusual
behaviours have concerned you. If he/she confides in
you their thoughts of suicide, be compassionate and
make it known that you're there to listen. Don't aim to
change their mind, start an argument or give advice.
Engage in conversation with your friend and find out what's
hurting them, gradually shifting the focus from sources of
pain to resources for treatment. In addition to external
challenges, your friend or family member might also be
fighting internal demons such as depression, anxiety and
other mood disorders that may require professional help. As
unusual as this may sound, these mood disorders are often
present in many suicidal patients. Most professionals are
competent enough to diagnose and treat these illnesses so, be
conscious of this resource and encourage your loved one to
seek help. Offer to work with them to locate a reputable
mental health professional or clinic. At this stage it is
recommended that you inform and involve their family
members. In recovery, they would need the support from
their family so, be mindful.
After contacting the relevant help, it is advisable to stay
connected, your presence and concern would mean a lot to
your friend on the path to healing and can hasten this
process. You can also encourage other friends, roommates, a
pastor and family members to check in on your friend during
this vulnerable time. The recovery phase is an especially
important phase since, many suicides occur in this period. In
addition, you can do your own independent research to find
more resources that can proper equip with information on
how to deal with suicidal persons.
What to do if you suspect your friend/loved one is suicidal
what if it’s you? If you have been thinking about suicide, get help now. Depression is
powerful. You can't wait and hope that your mood might improve. When
a person has been feeling down for a long time, it's hard to step back and be
objective. Talk to someone you trust as soon as you can. If you can't talk to a parent,
talk to a coach, a relative, a school counsellor, a religious leader, a teacher
or your local emergency number (9-1-1).
How should you cope?
Tell someone you trust what's going on with you;
Be around people who are caring and positive;
Ask someone to help you figure out what to do about a problem
you're facing;
Work with a therapist or counsellor if problems are getting you
down and depressed - or if you don't have a strong support network
or feel you can't cope.
Remember, don’t keep it all to yourself. When a balloon has too much air,
it bursts. It’s okay to cry. Take part in other activities such as sports,
listening to music that will keep you calm or join a community group.
Going to the beach, have some good laughs with friends. Drinking a lot of
water and coconut water helps keep you fresh and revived.
Lastly, if it's something negative that is a bother to you and can be
avoided...avoid it.
A message brought to you by:
The CARICOM Youth Ambassadors’ (S.V.G.) Committee
Contributions made by:
Dexter Whinfield
J’nee Francois
E-mail: [email protected]
Facebook: CARICOM Youth Ambassadors SVG
Twitter: @cyasvg