Suicide is one of the top killers in SA

Suicide is the third highest death rate among adolescents in South Africa, following murder and motor vehicle accidents.

Interestingly, Lorraine Mitchell, founder and managing director of Suicide Survivors, believes many motor vehicle accidents involving young people alone in a car are attempted suicides or the successful completion of a suicide.

Mitchell, who has herself battled depression and suicidal thoughts, is a 46-year-old single mom from Edenvale,

“In talking to young people who are suicidal about their plan to end their life, I’ve very often been told they’re going to drive into a bridge, into a tree or into the back of a truck. It’s very possible that many road accidents are the fulfilment of that plan.”

An estimated 23 people commit suicide in South Africa every day – almost one an hour – and at least 20 times that number attempt suicide daily. With limited resources focused on mental health, Mitchell’s work at Suicide Survivors, an East Rand-based organisation which provides awareness about and training in suicide prevention, empowers people to be suicide alert and aware of how to access support.

September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. Suicide Survivors is hosting an open day on this day at Bedfordview Remedial, Learning & Therapy Centre, 29 Talisman Road, from 10am to noon. There is no cost and refreshments will be served.

She says the successful completion of suicide is most prevalent in males aged 17 to 35. While women in the same age group are also in the high risk category, it has been proven that women are less successful at completing a suicide than men.

“This is mainly because men are prone to more violent methods of suicide, such as shooting, hanging or gassing, while women tend to overdose or slit their wrists, which often doesn’t kill them.”

The main underlying factor related to attempted or successful suicide is depression, Mitchell says. “This doesn’t mean that everyone who is depressed is suicidal but, you will mostly find that a person who is suicidal is depressed. The secondary factors are no sense of belonging and believing you are a burden on friends and family.”

In the South African context, Mitchell strongly believes we’re a depressed nation. “The political and economic uncertainty we live in has caused an overwhelming sense of depression among young and old. The difficulties experienced in day-to-day living and the stress and worry about the future often leads to depression and suicidal thoughts and resulting feelings of hopelessness.

“The tragic ripple effect of suicide is the many people who are left bereaved and the aftermath for those who are close to someone who has tried to take their life. Suicide is preventable. We need to keep talking about it openly and honestly and get people from all walks of life trained to recognise the signs so they can intervene to prevent someone taking their life.”

THE WARNING SIGNS

What are the feelings?

Shame, anger, sadness, worthlessness, hopelessness, helplessness and despair.

What are the behaviours?

Withdrawn, isolated, reckless, substance use and/or abuse, giving away prized possessions, loss of interest in previous hobbies or interests, demotivated, eating too much or too little, insomnia or over-sleeping, lack of self-care, getting their affairs in order.

What are they saying?

I am a burden. People will be better off without me. I deserve to die. I am just so tired. I wish I could be in a better place. I just do not fit in this world.

It is worth noting that if a depressed or suicidal person suddenly appears to be happier and coping better, it could be because they’ve formulated a plan to complete their suicide and are now living with this sense of relief.

They could carry out the plan soon after appearing to friends and family that they’re in a better space emotionally. Persons who have made a suicide attempt, expressed suicidal thoughts or are in the first month of taking an anti-depressant should be closely monitored, Mitchell advises.