Whether you’ve read about it in the papers or have lost someone close to you or even struggled with suicide ideation yourself, one thing’s for sure, suicide is serious and should not be swept under the rug. We need to enlighten ourselves and those around us about what suicide is, how it’s preventable and openly discuss warning signs as well as inform each other on the help that is available for those suffering from thoughts of and intentions to commit suicide. The more openly and honestly we share, the more closely we can connect to and understand each other and ultimately, prevent deaths by suicide, because awareness is always the first step towards healing.
Here are a few warning signs of suicide to look out for in yourself through self-awareness as well as in your loved ones, by making an effort and checking in on them regularly:
- Appearing depressed and sad or displaying a low mood regularly. (Untreated clinical depression can often lead to suicide)
- Feeling and expressing hopelessness
- Social and emotional withdrawal from friends and family
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Preparing for death (giving away possessions, writing a will)
- Engaging in suicidal talk (statements such as, “I want to die”, “Everyone would be better off without me”)
These are just a few examples of warning signs to look out for, however many people tend to hide their depression or thoughts of suicide because there is still a strong social stigma around mental illness, so it may be hard to detect, but not impossible. Suicide can have many causes, and is often challenging to pin down to just one single cause, but here are a couple of possible causes:
- Untreated depression or other mental illness
- Negative or stressful life events (death of a loved one, divorce, terminal illness, being victimised, feeling trapped or hopeless, bullying)
Take extra care to look out for warning signs and possible causal factors and always take suicidal talk or ideation very seriously. Encourage yourself or your loved one/s to get the help that they deserve, without judging them or getting angry at them.
There are various mental health services available in Namibia that can offer counselling and support when dealing with issues that could lead to suicide or suicidal intentions, please reach out to receive the professional attention that you and your loved ones deserve:
LifeLine ChildLine: 061 232 221
BB Boois Psychology Practice: 081 2543 091
Ministry of Health & Social Services Psychiatric Department: 061 2032 602
