It's important to talk about suicide
At a time when young people are under so much pressure, which can lead to mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety, we should know how to keep each other safe
Some people may worry that talking about suicide encourages people to harm themselves, or puts dangerous ideas into young people's minds. Suicide is a global phenomenon, and the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds globally. However, organisations such as the Samaritans and The American Association of Suicidology encourage young people to be open about their feelings and to talk about "taboo" subjects, explaining that this offers an opportunity to get help.
A 2003 University of Hong Kong study supports the idea that it can be helpful to talk. The study found that less than 10 per cent of teenagers experiencing depression or suicidality had received any counselling or professional support, and suggested that earlier help and intervention would lead to a lower rate of tragedy.
Case study
I first spoke to Shiva* when she was in a heightened state of anxiety.
"I don't want to be here," she said. Shiva felt it was safe to express her feelings in the counselling setting, but if she were to have said this to a friend, it may have been quite scary or confronting for the friend to hear. Sometimes shocking information can be met with humour or misinterpretation - for example, not hearing the distress, or not wanting to; or anger, such as berating a person for having "dark" thoughts.
The important thing for Shiva was that she wanted to be heard; this also signalled the fact she also wanted to be helped. When it comes to suicidal thoughts and feelings, it's important to get the right kind of help.
Often, it will take a team of people to provide this help, and so if a friend confides in you about suicidal thoughts, don't panic and think you have to solve the issue all by yourself. There are plenty of people who can help, and we'll look at some of these options here.
* name has been changed
