Suicide facts

We often hear from people who have felt suicidal that it wasn’t necessarily that they wanted to die, they just wanted the overwhelming physical and/or emotional pain were experiencing to stop. They couldn’t see another way…they’d lost hope.

But suicide isn’t inevitable. What works for one person, won’t work for everyone but with the right approach, resources, and support suicide is preventable.

It can be helpful to understand that people who have felt this way can go on to live full, healthy, and happy lives.

The idea that suicide is selfish often comes from misunderstanding around the complexities of the factors that can contribute to someone taking their own life.

This view can come from a place of grief, anger and feelings of being abandoned or betrayed by the person they’ve lost. Some people hold a simplistic view that suicide is a simple, rational and easy choice.

The truth is we can’t always understand what someone else is going through, how they are feeling and what their thinking is.

When someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts that are so overwhelming, the despair and hopelessness they are experiencing impairs their judgement. It can be difficult to get perspective and find solutions to the real or perceived challenges they are facing.

A person can feel so overwhelmed by the emotional pain they’re experiencing, they’re unable to consider the impact on others. It isn’t necessarily that they don’t care about the people in their lives.

People might not realise that those contemplating suicide often feel like a burden and believe that their loved ones would be better off without them. Some people feel like no-one would miss them anyway.

A better understanding of suicide can help people who have been or are affected by suicide. But that can’t happen if we don’t talk about suicide.

How can talking about suicide help? Talking about suicide can help in different but important ways:

1. Reduces stigma: Open conversations about suicide can reduce the stigma associated with it, making it easier for individuals to seek help without fear of judgement.
2. Raises awareness: Discussion brings awareness to the prevalence of suicide and the seriousness of issues, helping ongoing education about warning signs.
3. Provides support: Sharing experiences and feelings can emotionally support those struggling with suicidal thoughts, helping them feel less alone and better understood.
4. Encourages help seeking behaviour: Talking openly about suicide can encourage individuals to seek help and support and can guide them towards appropriate resources and support systems.
5. Identifies warning signs: Open discussions can help others recognise warning signs in friends, family, or colleagues, enabling timely intervention.
6. Promotes healthy coping mechanisms: Conversations about mental health can promote the adoption of healthy coping mechanisms and stress management techniques, reducing the risk of suicidal behaviour.
7. Informs policy and practice: Public conversation can influence policy makers and healthcare providers to improve services, fund suicide prevention initiatives, and implement effective strategies to reduce suicide rates.
8. Empowers survivors and advocates: Encouraging conversation allows survivors of suicide attempts and those affected by suicide to share their stories, fostering a community of support and advocacy for better support and resources.

Overall, talking about suicide helps create an environment where people feel safe to express their feelings and seek help, ultimately contributing to suicide prevention efforts and saving lives.

Anyone can be affected by suicide. 

We all have a role we can play to support suicide awareness and prevention. We can all help foster a culture of care, compassion and support. 

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