Safe September

Trigger Warning: Suicide, loss, grief

September is marked by the Suicide Prevention Month and it includes a designated week that surrounds the World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th. Although preventing suicide should not just be attributed to a month, having a month specifically dedicated to raising awareness and coming together to take action ensures that everyone has accurate information and accessible, appropriate resources for themselves and others in their times of need. This month is a time to decrease stigma around suicide and seeking help while increasing public knowledge of warning signs and resources. It further encourages the normalization of talking about suicide in an open and safe manner which makes it easier for people to speak up in ways such as expressing their thoughts and feelings as well as spreading awareness. Having a month, week, and day dedicated to prevention reminds the public that this is an important issue, there’s still hope, and help is available for anyone who needs it.

Suicide is a prominent issue in Canada and around the world. There are approximately 4,000 annual deaths by suicide in Canada, 20 or more attempts per death by suicide with about 275 suicide attempts and 11 deaths by suicide in Canada on a daily basis (Crisis Services Canada, 2021). The World Health Organization (WHO) approximates that someone dies by suicide every 40 seconds (2021), making it a common and pressing issue. There are various workshops that aid in learning how to recognize the signs of someone who is suicidal and strategies to intervene or resources to refer the individual to. Some examples include Living Works safeTALK, ASIST, and Start. These workshops are primarily in person, except for Start, due to the very nature of the content and should be taken by as many people as possible because they save lives.

Those who tend to be at higher risk of suicide include those with a pre-existing mental health condition, a chronic or otherwise serious illness, a history of substance use and abuse, a fresh tragedy such as the loss of a loved one, a history of trauma and/or abuse, or historically oppressed groups of people such as racialized individuals or the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Further, males tend to die by suicide at higher rates but females tend to attempt suicide at higher rates. This differentiation is a complex one but is primarily suspected to be due to a difference in the level of intent and lethality of their method chosen. For example, males tend to rely on methods like guns or hanging whereas females tend to turn to intentionally overdosing or exsanguination, which is allowing themselves to bleed out.

There is a common misconception that suicidal ideation is an empty thought or threat from those who are suicidal and commonly leads people to stereotype suicidal individuals negatively and as attention seekers. The suicidal individual may be seeking attention but not in the way they’re misconstrued to be; vocalizing their suicidal ideation is sometimes a way of asking for help and seeking support, but not everyone who is suicidal will be vocal about it. It is important to look out for warning signs because not being able to catch them in time may result in a death by suicide feeling surprising or unexpected for loved ones. Some other common myths about suicide include: only those who have a pre-existing mental health condition are suicidal, talking about or mentioning suicide may encourage individuals to do so, as soon as an individual is suicidal they will always be suicidal, suicide is a form of taking the easy way out and is selfish, and that all suicidal individuals are intent on dying. However, none of these myths are true and they perpetuate negative stereotypes about people who are suicidal. These are some of the misconceptions that Suicide Prevention Month attempts to address and combat in order to destigmatize suicide.

Some signs and symptoms Crisis Services Canada suggests to look for in others is vocal suicidal ideation, which may include talking about, threatening, or joking about suicide, self harm, and/or death; searching for methods of suicide; an increase in the use of substances such as drugs or alcohol; expressing feelings of being trapped, isolated, hopeless, helpless, the belief that there is no way out or no solutions, and/or having a low sense of belonging and purpose or a careless attitude; changes in mood such as increased irritability, anxiety, and/or anger; difficulty sleeping or staying awake; distancing or isolating themselves from others; participation in impulsive, risky and/or reckless behaviours.

Some ways to approach a crisis of this manner includes listening to the individual calmly and without judgement; talking to them honestly and openly while asking direct and simple questions; removing possible methods of suicide; being supportive without debating on or questioning the morality of their potential decision; and remain patient with the inidividual. Suicidal ideation is a symptom and can be treated and improved over time so it is important to let the individual know that there is still hope and help is available for them. Whilst helping someone else who may be suicidal, it is important to look out for yourself and your own mental health as well. Most people have not been trained to take on someone else’s distress, particularly if they are suicidal, and thus are not equipped to help them in all of the ways that they need. It is best to encourage the individual to seek professional help and provide them with adequate and accessible resources if possible. Further, do not be afraid to mention suicide to the individual because it does not and will not plant that idea in their heads; if someone is suicidal they will be before you enquire about it. Crisis Services Canada recommends calling 911 if immediate danger for you or another is imminent.

When someone dies by suicide, it can be surprising and painful for their loved ones. Grief is different for everyone, and individual coping mechanisms, strategies, stages, and time frames will differ. It is important to be easy on yourself and reassure yourself that you are not to blame for what has happened as it’s not your fault. If you or someone you know if struggling with the

grief of losing a loved one to suicide, nudge them or consider for yourself seeking professional help and/or looking at the resources provided at the end of this article.

Overall, it is important to have a month, week, and day dedicated to Suicide Prevention because it helps remind the public that this is a common and pressing issue and provides them with the resources and services that they may benefit from. Adequate prevention is intersectional and requires action from various sections of society such as health, education, media, politics, and law. Thus, everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention and it is important that we continue to spread awareness as much as possible.

Below are some resources for anybody who may need it:

1. Canada Suicide Prevention Service - call 1 (833) 456 4566, or text 45645 (4pm to midnight)

2. Greater Toronto Area Crisis Line - (416) 408-4357

3. Survivor Support Program - (416) 595-1716

4. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1 (800) 273-8255

5. Text NAMI to 741-741

6. Kids Help Phone - 1 800 668-6868

7. Visit https://www.suicideinfo.ca/resources/ for more resources or look at TMUG’s compiled resource list

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Sources:

• ASIST Suicide Prevention Training Program. LivingWorks. (n.d.). https://www.livingworks.net/asist.

• Canada Suicide Prevention Service. Crisis Services Canada. (2021, July 9). https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/.

• Fast facts: About Suicide in Canada: Crisis Services. Crisis Services Canada. (2020, June 10). https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/fast-facts/.

• Fuller, K. (2020, September 30). 5 common myths about Suicide Debunked. NAMI. https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/September-2020/5-Common-Myths-About-Suicide-Debunked.

• Preventing Suicide: A Global Imperative - Myths. World Health Organization. (2014). https://www.who.int/mental_health/suicide-prevention/myths.pdf .

• Promote National Suicide Prevention Month. Lifeline. (n.d.). https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/promote-national-suicide-prevention-month/.

• Resources. Centre for Suicide Prevention. (2017, April 21). https://www.suicideinfo.ca/resources/.

• Risk of Suicide. NAMI. (n.d.). https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Common-with Mental-Illness/Risk-of-Suicide.

• SafeTALK Suicide Prevention Course. LivingWorks. (n.d.). https://www.livingworks.net/safetalk.

• Schimelpfening, N. (2020, November 16). Differences in Suicide Among Men and Women. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/gender-differences-in-suicide-methods-1067508.

• Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. NAMI. (n.d.).https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/suicide-prevention-awareness-month.

• Suicide Prevention Week. How to talk about suicide. (n.d.). https://howtotalkaboutsuicide.com/suicide-prevention-week/.

• World Health Organization. (n.d.). Suicide. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide.

• World Health Organization. (n.d.). World suicide Prevention Day 2019 - 40 seconds of action. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/ 2019/09/10/default-calendar/world-suicide-prevention-day.