There is help out there

According to Dr Robyn Holgate, the chief medical officer at ER24, suicide is an unpredictable event and they cannot say who is going to kill themselves over the festive season.

She said there are 23 suicides a day in South Africa and 230 attempts.

People should obtain help for those who appear sad, are struggling to cope with the circumstances or express that they are contemplating suicide.

“Make sure they know they can come to you. Be confidential, assure them that there is help and get the appropriate professional help. Reach out to that person in a caring way.

“Initially, when the person has attempted suicide, it may not be appropriate to talk to them.

You may just want to reassure them and put them in a safe environment,” said Holgate.

According to her, some para-suicides are not attempts by the person to kill themselves but a cry for help.

“It is our opportunity as medical practitioners to reach out and help them overcome this feeling of helplessness, desperation and feeling that there is no-one out there to assist them,” she said.

If someone is feeling depressed, they should reach out for help.

“Let us know. We are available and there are a lot of health-care practitioners, voluntary organisations and our own counselling service that are there to assist you. You do not have to do it alone,” said Holgate.

Dangers of attempting suicide

Attempted suicide can lead to brain damage, disfigurement or disability.

Henning Jacobs, the trauma support co-ordinator at ER24, said there were some instances where people experienced brain damage to such an extent that they could no longer live a normal life.

High-risk teens

While it is not only the diagnosed clinically depressed who commit suicide there are those teens that are a higher risk for suicide according to Jill Lithgow, the ER24 education training and development department manager.

Below is a list provided by Lithgow of high-risk teens:

• teens who have previously attempted suicide.
• Psychological and mental disorders, especially depression and other mood disorders, schizophrenia and social anxiety.
• Substance abuse and/or alcohol disorders.
• History of abuse or mistreatment.
• Family history of suicide.
• Physical illness.
• Impulsive or aggressive tendencies.
• Financial or social loss.
• Relationship loss.
• Isolation or lack of social support.
• Easy access to methods or means of suicide.
• Exposure to others who have committed suicide.

Lithgow said depression may be diagnosed when someone has at least five of the following symptoms:

• feeling down, depressed or sad most of the day. Feeling irritable and angry.
• Loss of interest in daily activities.
• Significant weight loss or weight gain. Decrease or increase in appetite.
• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much.
• Feeling very nervous, hyper and sluggish.
• Fatigue or no energy.
• Feeling worthless or unnecessarily guilty.
• Difficulty concentrating and/or indecisiveness.
• Either recurrent thoughts of death without a specific plan or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.

The ER24 Emergency Contact Centre can be reached 24 hours a day on 084 124.