Take Action For Suicide Prevention - Creating Hope Through Action

Take Action for Suicide Prevention: Creating Hope Through Action

September 11 2021 TalktoAngel 0 comments 1055 Views

Around 7 lakh people die of suicide globally every year. Yes, we need to do something about it. Advocacy, Action and Prevention is by far the best strategy to counter the world suicide problem. Every year on the 10^th of September, the world observes World Suicide Prevention Day. This year’s theme for the day is “Creating Hope Through Action”. The theme sends a beautiful message about how we can put work and efforts to send out hope. The theme empowers people to work together to create awareness for suicide prevention. Hope is a central concept here. Hope here refers to the fact that there is an option beyond suicide by doing something about it.

How can you Take Action?

#Be there

The most important thing that you can do is be there for someone. If you know someone who is struggling with an issue, make sure you are there for them. For instance, if someone has conveyed their suicidal ideations or thoughts, let them know that they have someone to rely upon. In this way, you can provide them with emotional support to rely on. Additionally, if they are comfortable with it, you can connect them with a mental health counselor.

#Be Mindful of what you do

You never know what someone is going through in their personal life. Being mindful of your actions directed towards others will help you in not making things worse. For example, humiliating someone, being aggressive with them, discriminating against them, harassment etc can trigger people.

#Join a Cause

If you are someone who believes in the cause of mental health and suicide prevention, you can join social causes. Volunteering for an NGO, joining a helpline, advocacy program, being a listener at support groups, etc can be beneficial. This is a great way to become socially responsible for a cause and learn more about the issues. It is also internally satisfying when you know you’re doing something resourceful.

#Donate

If you don’t have a lot of time on your hand, another way to contribute is by donating. Donations can be in the form of money, clothes, food etc. Mental health issues are not just biological and psychological, financial problems do contribute and make things worse. Donations can reach the most vulnerable sections of the society and prevent suicides, mental health issues caused by poverty and lack of resources. They can also help for psychological treatments as well.

#Learn more

Another way of contributing to the cause is by learning. Learning here refers to knowing more about the cause. For example, you can take a mental health first aid course or a suicide prevention course online. Learning can help you address issues which you encounter in your life. You can also become a passive advocate by correcting misconceptions, increasing awareness in and around your group.

#Support the Mental Health Community

Lastly, you can also prevent severe psychological issues by supporting the mental health community. The mental health community refers to psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, counsellors. The mental health community experiences stigma, underpayment, and humiliation from people which impacts their quality of service. By respecting the community, you also stand with their cause.

Along with the changing times, now there exists so many online counselling platforms providing affordable and confidential online counselling for mental health services through trusted, experienced and verified online counselors and best therapists around the country.

This Suicide Prevention day, make sure you’re taking action for prevention. Let’s work towards destigmatising mental health problems, increasing accessibility to healthcare resources and being there for people. In case you think someone can benefit from therapy, tell them about TalktoAngel. You can access affordable, quality services online.