Suicide is a scary word and a topic that most people do not want to talk about. We challenge everyone to help reduce the stigma around suicide. What can we do as students at TRU to reduce this stigma? TALK ABOUT IT.
This year the World Health Organization produced the first suicide report called “Preventing Suicide: A Global Imperative”. In this report it stated, globally there are more than 800 000 people who die each year from suicide, that is one person every 40 seconds. Yet these deaths are preventable. It also stated that there are 26 countries that have national strategies around suicide prevention. You guessed it; Canada is one of those countries. Let’s work together with the resources we have to promote suicide prevention and reduce the stigma that surrounds suicide.
Closer to home, here at TRU the National Collage Health Assessment in 2013 found that 8.6% of TRU students surveyed stated in the last 12 months they seriously considered suicide and that 1.3% of students attempted suicide. The report goes on to say that 78% of students surveyed stated that they did not receive information on how to help others in distress, and 58% of students surveyed were interested in receiving more information about suicide prevention.
So what can we do? Here are a few tips that can help you ……
1. Speak up if you’re worried – Asking about suicidal thoughts and feelings can be extremely difficult but if you’re unsure whether someone is suicidal, the best way to find out is to ask. You can’t make a person suicidal by showing that you care. In fact, giving a person who is suicidal the opportunity to express his or her feelings can provide relief from loneliness and pent-up negative feelings, and may prevent a suicide attempt.
2. Respond quickly in a crisis – If someone tells you that they are thinking about death or suicide please believe them and take it seriously. It is important to start by evaluating the immediate danger the person is in. Those at the highest risk for completing suicide in the near future have a specific suicide PLAN, the MEANS to carry out the plan, a TIME SET for doing it, and an INTENTION to do it.
The following questions can help you assess the immediate risk for suicide:
– Do you have a suicide plan? (PLAN)
– Do you have what you need to carry out your plan (pills, weapon, etc.)? (MEANS)
– Do you know when you would do it? (TIME SET)
– Do you intend to complete suicide? (INTENTION)
If a suicide attempt seems imminent, call a local crisis center, dial 911, or take the person to an emergency room. Remove any potentially lethal objects from the vicinity but do not, under any circumstances, leave a suicidal person alone.
3. Offer help and support – If someone is suicidal, the best way to help is to be there and listen to them. Let them know that they are not alone and that you care. Don’t take responsibility, however, for making them well. You can offer support, but you can’t get better for a suicidal person. He or she has to make a personal commitment to recovery.
It takes a lot of courage to help someone who is suicidal. If you’re helping someone who is suicidal, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Find someone that you trust and make sure you get your own support.
Resources for Students:
Example of a Safety Plan (please click on pic to see in larger format)
Interior Crisis Line Network 1- 888- 353‐CARE (2273)
TRU Counseling Department (OM1631) call (250) 828-5023
TRU Health Services (OM1463) call (250) 828-5126
Mental Health call (250) 851 7450
Or Mental Health after hours call (250) 377 – 0088
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