Suicide Prevention Program
Suicide is a huge public health crisis that affects millions of people. Approximately 47,500 individuals died by suicide in 2019. Suicide ranked 10th among all causes of death in the country in 2019. The act of suicide is a difficult and painful experience, yet it is often avoidable. It is possible to save lives by understanding the warning signs of suicide and how to receive help.
Let’s redefine and understand suicide
Suicide is defined as the intentional infliction of bodily damage with the intent of ending one’s life, followed by death. Suicide attempts are when people damage themselves with the intent of terminating their lives, but they do not die as a result of their actions.
When referring to suicide and suicide attempts, avoid using terminology such as “committing suicide,” “successful suicide,” or “failed suicide” because these expressions are generally associated with negative connotations.
A person may exhibit the following warning signs if he or she is a danger of committing suicide in the near future:
- Disseminating the idea of wanting to die or of wanting to commit suicide
- Talking about feeling empty or hopeless or having no reason to live
- Talking about feeling stuck or believing that there are no solutions
- Talking about feeling trapped or believing that there are no answers
- Being in excruciating emotional or bodily discomfort
- Being a burden to others is something that has been discussed.
- Withdrawing from family and friends is a common occurrence.
- Important possessions are being given away.
- Saying farewell to friends and family members can be difficult.
- Making arrangements for the future, such as drafting a will
- Taking excessive risks that might result in death, such as driving at high speeds
- Talking about or thinking about death on a regular basis
There are several more major warning indications that someone may be on the verge of trying suicide, including:
- Extreme mood swings, such as rapidly turning from being extremely depressed to being extremely calm or joyful
- Planning or seeking ways to commit suicide, such as searching for fatal techniques online, collecting medications, or purchasing a gun, are all examples of premeditated suicide.
- Bringing up the subject of having a tremendous deal of remorse or humiliation
- Increasing the frequency with which you use alcohol or drugs
- Being nervous or irritated
- Changes in one’s eating or sleeping patterns
- Making threats of retribution or expressing a desire to exact revenge
- It’s crucial to remember that suicide is not a typical response to stressful situations.
Suicidal thoughts or behaviours are an indication of severe emotional anguish and should not be disregarded under any circumstances. In the event that any of these warning signals are present in you or someone you know, get treatment as soon as possible, especially if the behaviour is new or has grown in frequency recently.
How can we help?
With our suicide prevention program, you can receive assistance from volunteers who have been professionally trained and competent. At our suicide prevention centre, the volunteers are picked with great care, and they are chosen for their capacity to listen with empathy and understanding, among other qualities. Before they can begin interacting with calls, each volunteer must complete training before they can begin working. In times of crisis, you can reach us at the suicide prevention helpline India and get help.
Making a difference in suicide prevention is a shared responsibility. Join us in making a difference!