Suicide is a complex public health issue that occurs as a result of many individual, community and societal factors. Prevention strategies focus on reducing risk factors and increasing protective factors.
It is important to recognize warning signs of suicide and to know how to talk with someone who might be at risk.
Life skills
Life skills are the abilities that enable a person to cope with life’s challenges. They can include critical thinking, stress management, and problem-solving skills. They are essential for a person’s well-being and the success of society as a whole. These skills can be taught in school, through community programs, and through self-help tools.
Education empowers people to recognize the warning signs of suicide and seek help. It also helps to reduce stigma by teaching people how to respond to those at risk and connect them with resources.
Supportive relationships and community connectedness are protective factors against suicide. They can be built through human connection and through everyday acts of kindness, such as being present for someone, listening without judgement, and offering support. This is important because isolation is one of the main risk factors for suicide. It is vital to keep in mind that most people who have suicidal thoughts recover. It takes time and it is often a complex process, but they can be treated with therapy/counseling, community engagement, and other supports.
Resilience
Resilience is a psychological quality that allows people to overcome life’s setbacks. It involves having a positive outlook and learning from difficulties rather than being defeated by them. Resilience is also about finding meaning and purpose in one’s life. Several studies have shown that resilience can be a protective factor against depression symptoms and suicidal thoughts.
However, it’s important to note that resilience is not the same as mental toughness or ignoring one’s emotions. It requires healthy coping skills such as learning to regulate one’s emotions, developing supportive relationships and practicing self-compassion. It’s also about being aware that not everyone has the same level of resilience and seeking support when necessary.
Resilience can be boosted through various methods, including reading books or online message boards, attending support group meetings and connecting with other survivors of suicide. However, it’s important to remember that these strategies take time and practice. Eventually, these techniques will become a part of your overall mindset and help you to avoid suicidal thoughts in the future.
Identifying people at risk
Several risk factors increase the likelihood that someone will attempt or die from suicide. These include: a history of suicidal behaviour, loss and isolation, family or personal tragedy, academic or work failures, exposure to violent or tragic events and a chronic physical illness. Protective factors that decrease the likelihood of suicide include a supportive social network, community connectedness and social programs for specific population groups.
People at risk for suicide show many warning signs, including talking about wanting to kill themselves, making a plan or looking for ways to kill themselves. These warning signs should always be taken seriously. They are especially important if they are new or have increased and seem related to a painful event, loss or change.
People at risk of suicide should be connected to immediate support services like suicide crisis lines and emergency psychiatric services. This includes mobile and walk-in crisis clinics and community-based support services. Also, lethal items (guns, drugs, ropes and chemicals) should be locked up or removed from the vicinity.
Supportive relationships and community connectedness
Suicide prevention efforts can also include work to reduce access to lethal means. This can include educating families about safely storing and securing medications and firearms, changing medication packaging, and installing barriers on bridges.
Supportive relationships and community connectedness are protective factors against suicide. They can be strengthened through programs and practices that promote social attachments and supportive relationships. These may include community support groups and activities in schools, tribal, and faith-based organizations. These can also include peer-delivered services and virtual extension classes.
Imagine a community where people feel safe and welcomed to engage in health-enhancing opportunities, such as hiking groups. Communities that value connectedness can create spaces for meaningful relationships to form – family bonds, friendships, and romantic partnerships that allow space for vulnerability and personal growth. These relationships are the foundation for mental and physical well-being. They help people manage life’s challenges. They can even extend a person’s lifespan. (Uchino & Holt-Lunstad, (2009).