On the occasion of the World Suicide Prevention Day, it's painful to share that of all the things India is also a country with one of the highest number of male suicides anywhere in the world. With about 92k men committing suicide each year which means one male suicide roughly every 6.5 minutes. Youth between 15- 35 years being the maximum percentage. It's being called the suicide capital of the world.
While this has always been a non-issue for the governments, Save Indian Family and it's allied NGO's have been working relentlessly on this issue for over one and a half decade now.
Yes it is true that we haven't been able to reach out to everyone but lot of men who called our helplines, joined the counselings etc accept that they were on the verge of committing suicide before they came in contact with SIF.
And with this I request each one of our volunteer to continue doing what they're doing coz they really are doing a tremendous job.
Lot of people are not aware that suicides are preventable. There are a number of measures that can help prevent suicides and even pre-empt attempted suicide. Of course, prevention starts with recognising the early warning signs, taking them seriously and acting upon them. Following are some of the common signs and symptoms (by WHO) that indicate someone may be thinking about suicide.
Drastic changes in mood and behaviour
Major changes to sleeping patterns – such as sleeping too much or too little
Loss of energy
Threatening to kill oneself
Saying things like ‘No-one will miss me when I am gone’
Looking for ways to kill oneself, such as seeking access to pesticides, firearms or medication, or browsing the internet for means of taking one’s own life
Self-harming behaviours like bodily harm, cuts etc
Saying goodbye to close family members and friends, giving away of valued possessions, or writing a wil
Aggressiveness and irritability
Isolation
What (as per a WHO report) you can do if you think someone is suicidal:
Suicide is a complex issue, however, it is preventable with timely, evidence-based and often low-cost interventions. Experts say people who have access to mental health services and receive support from caring friends and family are less likely to act on their suicidal impulses than those who are socially isolated. Here are a few things you can do if someone you know is showing warning signs for suicide, as per WHO:
Find an appropriate time and a quiet place to talk about suicide with the person you are worried about.
Let your loved one or the concerned person know that you are there to listen.
Encourage the person to seek professional help, such as a doctor, mental health professional, counsellor or social worker. Offer to accompany them to an appointment.
Do not leave the person alone if you think he/she is in immediate danger.
Don't hesitate to ask if he or she is depressed or thinking about suicide. Instead, seek professional help from the emergency services, a crisis line, or a health-care professional, or turn to family members.
Make sure that you stay in touch to check how the person is doing.
If the person you are worried about lives with you, ensure that he or she does not have access to means of suicide - such as pesticides, firearms or medication in the home.
If you think someone you know is considering suicide, talk to them about it and listen with an open mind while offering your support.
My take is that you should ask the man to call SIF one helpline for men in distress; 8882498498.
Make him speak to the volunteers and join the nearest weekly support group meeting.