South Africa’s suicide rate for 2019 has been estimated at 23.5 suicides per 100,000 people, of which more than three-quarters were male.
Although these are the most recent official statistics, the former Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize, revealed in 2020 that there had been 1,781 suicide-related deaths in South Africa over the four months between 27 March and 27 July.
World Suicide Prevention Day will be commemorated on Friday, 10 September, to promote a worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides. According to the South African government page, almost 3,000 people, on average, commit suicide daily.
For every person who completes a suicide, 20 or more may attempt to end their lives, which often goes unreported or undocumented. About one million people commit suicide each year. Every 40 seconds, the loss of a person who has killed themselves shatters the lives of family and friends.
This year’s theme for World Suicide Prevention Day addresses one of the myths surrounding suicide, that talking about it may encourage people to act upon it. The theme, “Creating hope through action”, emphasises that suicide should not be treated as a taboo subject.
“While not every tragic death from self-harm can be stopped, it may be possible to reach more people who can only see one way out, before it is too late if our society is more informed. Creating a deeper understanding of suicide through raising awareness among the public could help more people reach out and talk to others for help before that last resort,” says Megan Hosking, the psychiatric intake clinician at Netcare Akeso mental health facilities.
“Suicide is complicated and often misunderstood. For a person who is suicidal, the situation feels hopeless and often confusing,” Hosking explains. Pelo Tau* who suffers from depression says she wishes the people she opens up to would listen without being judgemental.
“When a person verbalises or communicates that they are suicidal, they should be taken seriously. Such a person should not be left alone until they have received some sort of help,” she says.
Dr Diana Monama, a clinical psychologist, explains that the incidence of suicide tends to rise as we approach the end of the year. “When the whole environment comes to life again, the depressed person feels ‘left behind’ in sadness.
She adds that the signs of depression include:
• A lack of enjoyment of life
• More bad days than good per week
• A change in eating patterns
• A change in sleeping patterns
• A lack of energy, which may seem to improve just before the suicide attempt
• Spending a lot of time thinking about suicide, whether verbalising these thoughts or not.
She says previous suicide attempts are a huge risk factor if the depression hasn’t been addressed medically. Other warning signs are people who start withdrawing from friends and family or who start saying goodbyes or give away special belongings to others.
The person at risk may start gathering the means to commit suicide. For example, a lot of pills or having access to a firearm or searching for a piece of hosepipe to gas themselves. They may start researching the topic of suicide on the internet.
Statistics show that men tend to have more lethal attempts than women and the latest research indicates that a history of a head injury or severe concussion is linked to suicidal thoughts or actions. When a person is suicidal, it should be remembered that their sole thought is often to end the pain or suffering they are experiencing.
“They may feel there is no other way out of their struggle, even if they have conflicting feelings about death. This may be as a result of mental health difficulties, adjustment to new medication, emotional struggles, financial difficulties, a feeling of hopelessness, experiences of loss or other challenges that feel overwhelming to them,” Hosking says.
Just because someone may be thinking about suicide does not mean there is no hope for them. While people who are suicidal may not always reveal their inner pain or intentions in a way that is recognisable to others, several common warning signs should be taken seriously.
“Awareness and recognition of these signs could help save lives. Any indication of suicidal thoughts must be taken seriously. Responding appropriately could help to make the difference between life and death for a person contemplating suicide,” Hosking says.
What you can do to help someone at risk
– Talk to the person if you are worried about them
– Be honest about your concerns but avoid blaming them for anything they are feeling
Listen to them and take them seriously
Offer help and support but know your boundaries
– If a loved one is suicidal, seek professional help Make sure they are in a safe place and able to access professional care.
– Respond quickly if there is a crisis
– If a person comes forward, saying they are feeling suicidal or having thoughts of harming themselves, it is important to try and understand whether they have made plans for taking their own lives and have the means to carry this out.
Seek emergency assistance, as this is a high-risk situation. For help, contact The South African Depression and Anxiety Group on 0800 567 567. To contact a counsellor between 08:00 and 20:00 from Monday to Sunday, call 011 234 4837.
