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: caricomyouthsvg@gmail.com

Facebook: CARICOM Youth Ambassadors SVG

Twitter: @cyasvg