Suicide Prevention Day

Please note This blog post is regarding the topic of suicide.

Today, the 9th of September, is World Suicide Prevention Day. A day where globally we can come together to raise awareness of suicide and suicide prevention.

Suicide is the act of intentionally taking your own life, this also includes having suicidal feelings where people may have thoughts regarding taking their own life or even believing that the world would be better off without you. They can be scary feelings for someone to experience. 1 in 15 people attempt suicide with women more likely to have suicidal thoughts than man. However, men are 3 times more likely to take their own life. This is why together; we need to do what we can to prevent suicide. So how exactly can we do that?

One way is to be there for the people around us. Sometimes it can be hard to recognise the signs that someone may be struggling or considering suicide. However, here are some things to look out for that may help. - A noticeable drop towards taking care of themselves. - Diet worsening whether that be gaining weight or losing it. - Avoid people or any social interaction. - Giving away their possessions. - Self-harming. - Seem to be very down, self-loathing.

Whilst these may help to spot the signs in some circumstances, we also want to say that it’s important to remember these signs won’t be guaranteed for every person. Someone might seem absolutely fine on the outside but the opposite on the inside. This is why regular checks to see how people around you are doing are so important. Sometimes a simple “Hey! How are you?” and showing you care can make a world of difference. Additionally, normalising seeking help and support for mental health can be a big help. For example, the more people talk openly about how they been going to see a counsellor to talk about their mental health, the more others may see that and feel “Oh that sounds great, maybe I should do the same”. It removes some of the dangerous stigmas surrounding mental health support that are unfortunately seen far too much.

Even something that seems as small as sharing a Facebook post regarding mental health could help someone as it may be seen by someone who will then learn about different methods of support! This is why we truly appreciate each and every one of you who like and share our posts.

If whilst reading this blog post or anything else during the day resonates with how you are feeling currently, please talk to us. We are here for you; all you need to do is let us be there. When you feel ready to so you can get in touch through here -> https://www.burtonmind.co.uk/contact-us No matter how hopeless or difficult things may seem, suicide is never the solution, it just prevents us from being able to find one.