Editorials

#YEAR13PROBLEMS

13 September 2017

By Lauren E. White

Suicide prevention

Warning: this column discusses issues surrounding suicide that some readers may find distressing

It’s not a particularly light topic to be discussing in the second column of Year 13, but it is one that needs to be addressed. Suicide is one of humanity’s biggest killers, yet it is also one of the issues about which we remain virtually silent.

On Sunday it was suicide prevention day. But we shouldn’t be dedicating just one day to being aware of preventing the preventable. We should always be aware of the truth about suicide and how we can help prevent it. Why?

Because suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50.

Because in 2015 suicide killed 134 university students – the highest rate in UK history.

Because suicide has resulted in 5,668 families having their lives torn apart.

While the number of suicides in the UK is currently at its lowest since 2011, there are still far too many people taking their own lives. Just one person is one person too many.

You may wonder how it is that you can help. Well, the truth is, you can help every day.

Those suffering with suicidal thoughts often look for signs to bother staying alive. Your kindness could be that sign, so the very simple way that you can help someone with suicidal tendencies is to simply be kind to everyone. Seeing as most people with suicidal thoughts don’t talk about them, you might never know if you’ve brought someone back from the brink, but that doesn’t matter. You should try anyway.

And if you know that someone is particularly vulnerable (even if you aren’t sure if they’re feeling suicidal or not), you can make all the difference. Sometimes all it takes is for one person to believe in you when you don’t even believe in yourself to make you ride the storm.

Suicide is a silent killer – and one we have to speak about. We have to speak about it because those with suicidal thoughts never get the space to air their feelings, which ultimately results in their suicide. If we create more space to speak – if we become the safe space for our friends and families – then we can prevent so many unnecessary deaths.

It gets better.

If you would like to speak out about your own suicidal feelings or any struggles you’re having, you can contact Samaritans on the number 116 123 for free, or speak to a family member, friend or GP to help you.

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