World Suicide Prevention Day


With it being World Suicide Prevention Day today, various mental health help lines and organisations have come forward to speak about the importance of counselling for people at risk of suicide.

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group noted that it receives more than 500 calls a day, with over 4100 in the past eight months.

Most people contemplating suicide experience anxiety, depression and hopelessness and may feel that there is no other choice but ending their lives. Talking about or threatening suicide may be a desperate cry for help and not necessarily attention seeking. 

Although there is no single cause, one of the risks for suicide is social isolation, and there’s scientific evidence for reducing suicide risk by making sure we connect with one another. We can all play a role through the power of connection by having real conversations about mental health in day to day moments.

It is clear that the main contributing factors for suicidal feelings include relationship issues, financial problems and post traumatic stress. However, the overwhelming factor was undiagnosed and untreated depression. It is crucial to always treat talk of suicide as a serious concern, as it is.

Edited by: Aneeqa du Plessis

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