Health : Today is World Suicide Prevention Day
(Photo Credits: IASP)
Today, September 10, is World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD).
WSPD—organized and hosted by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH)—is observed every year on September 10 to “raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented.” WSPD started in 2003 and since then, around 40 countries around the world hold various activities during this day to highlight the issue and to remind people we are not alone and that someone out there is always willing to listen and help.
This year’s theme is “Working Together to Prevent Suicide” because it “highlights the most essential ingredient for effective global suicide prevention – collaboration.” In addition, IASP said, “We all have a role to play and together we can collectively address the challenges presented by suicidal behaviour in society today.”
Today is #WorldSuicidePreventionDay. These LGBT+ celebrities are calling for journalists to change the the way they report on suicide. https://t.co/iLQgfVmpyv
— PinkNews (@PinkNews) September 10, 2018
Reportedly, over 800,000 people die by suicide each year or one person every 40 seconds. In addition, Suicide Prevention Australia said that some 65,000 people attempt suicide annually not to mention that “hundreds of thousands of people think of suicide.” This 2018 alone (and even these past few years) has seen celebrity deaths by suicide and very recently, that of a nine-year-old child due to homophobic bullying.
Indeed, suicide rates are higher in the LGBT community and it has been said time and again how “gay and bisexual men are four times more likely to attempt suicide in their lifetime than heterosexual men.” This probability is even higher for the LGB youth (almost five times as likely) and transgender adults (40% of them reportedly made a suicide attempt).
But what can we do to combat and prevent suicide? CDC says here are some of the things that we can do for our loved ones:
- Talk. Don’t hesitate to ask someone you are worried about if they’re thinking about suicide.
- Keep them safe. Reduce access to lethal means for those at risk.
- Be there with them. Listen to what they need.
- Help them connect with ongoing support like the Lifeline (1-800-273-8255).
- Follow up to see how they’re doing.
- Visit www.bethe1to.com to find out more on how we can help save a life and this link as well for helpful tips on what to do when a loved one is severely depressed and contemplating suicide.
Where to Get Help
If you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. You may also click here or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for more resources.
The suicide action phone numbers for other countries are:
US – Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860 Available 24/7
For the LGBT youth under 24, call TrevorLifeline—a crisis intervention and suicide prevention phone service available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386
TrevorText—Text “Trevor” to 1-202-304-1200. Standard text messaging rates apply. Available Monday through Friday between 3pm–10pm EST / Noon–7pm PT.
Canada – Trans Lifeline: (877) 330-6366 Available 24/7
Helpline 1: 604-872-3311 (Greater Vancouver)
Helpline 2: 18666613311 (Toll free-Howe Sound/Sunshine Coast)
Helpline 3: 1-866-872-0113 (TTY)
Helpline 4: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) (BC-wide)
Website: WWW.CRISISCENTRE.BC.CA
Mental Health Crisis Line 1-866-996-0991 (Ottawa and Eastern Ontario)
Mental Help Health Line 1-866-531-2600 (Ontario)
Association québécoise de prévention du suicide: 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553)
Also, check out http://suicideprevention.ca/ for educational materials and resources. You can also find local crisis centers through this link: http://suicideprevention.ca/need-help/
Australia – For crisis or suicide prevention support for LGBTQI in Australia, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp. Click here for other support services within Australia.
Singapore – Oogachaga Hotline – 6226 2002 (Tue to Thu 7pm to 10pm and Sat 2pm to 5pm)
Oogachaga WhatsApp – 8592 0609 (Tue to Thu 7pm to 10pm and Sat 2pm to 5pm)
Oogachaga face to face counselling – make an appointment
Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) 24-hour suicide prevention hotline – 1800 221 4444
Philippines – Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (632) 804-HOPE (4673) and 0917-558-HOPE (4673)
2919 (toll-free number for all GLOBE and TM subscribers)
For the other Asian countries, click here while those who are in various countries in Europe may check here.
For Adam4Adam users from other parts of the world not mentioned above, you may click this, this, and this.
Several things can lead to suicide, family problems, breakups with best friends, lovers, sex partners, and just plain not being accepted by society and family in general. Most of the general public doesn’t accept being gay, (especially those religious folks). Also most people don’t accept interracial relationships, and or guys being of different nationalities and cultures. One can get really down with one night stands, fuck and go’s, never to see the guy again. You have a great time, enjoy the sex, and then it’s over and wham, and you have to start searching all over again, hoping to find someone more exciting and better sex. Families put pressure on us to be straight, which is also a problem. Then there are money problems, there’s never enough for most of us. But we all seem to find a way to spend all that we earn, and then before the next payday, theirs nothing left, and it seems hopeless. Many drown their problems with alcohol or drugs, only to find reality still exists when they become sober again. This cycle continues till they get so down that life just isn’t worth living anymore. But wait, yes, there is hope. Don’t ever give up. The best thing to do is find a good lover, BF, and someone who really cares about you. Don’t let others pressure you into something your not. Be yourself, enjoy yourself. Find things to do together with friends, especially someone who cares about you and you care about him. Even a 12 step program stresses having a mentor who you can talk to and tell your problems too. But it has to go further than that, everyone needs someone who you can confide in as a friend. I get really down at times, and when I do, I can tell my BF/lover anything, and he also shares all kinds of his problems with me as well. We actually lift each other up. Sure we may not agree with everything, but just knowing someone actually cares about you is the greatest thing in the world. Get out and do things together with your friend/lover. Go places, travel, go to events such as concerts, walk or cruise around a talk, and be honest with each other, listen to each other problems, get things off your chest. Instead give each other a hug or kiss in public, be proud of each other, and how well you enjoy and love each other. Don’t let others bother you, it’s their problem, not yours. I’m not ashamed at all to show my love to my BF in public. Not to make a spectacle, but just honest showing that you care about each other. Watch movies together, go explore a nature trail, or go to a sporting event together. It doesn’t have to be expensive things to do, their a lots of free things to explore with each other. Oh yea, when your down, don’t hold back the tears when your with your lover, express your problems, he may not have the answers, but getting it off your chest is the best prevention. Also there is more to being gay than sex. (That’s the first thing that comes to mind when the word gay is mentioned to most people). I myself get really down at times. If you can’t meet in person right then, a phone call or text can brighten your outlook. Make some plans, look forward to it. Work toward it, with anticipation. What ever don’t worry about what others think, make love, not just sex, and yes even search out other friends to do things with. Boredom leads to suicide. If your at the point of breaking, go out, find something you enjoy and have a good time. Find an interest with someone. Another thing, stay away from alcohol and drugs, and if you need help with it, seek our some programs to help you with the problem. There is no shame in getting hooked on something, but letting it go to an extreme can lead to disaster. No body is perfect, not you, not me, not my BF, family etc. Overlook each others faults, look at the good side of life. Don’t ever be ashamed of who you are, I don’t care if your fat, skinny, white, black, handicapped, or a different nationality, etc. We all human beings, lets try to love each other for our differences.
OMG BJJ,
This is the best comment I have ever read on any subject on any blog!!!!!!!! Everyone on this planet needs to live through those precious words. Suicide is on the rise especially among the young. In a nutshell people please remember we are never alone. Don’t ever think you’re alone. Friends and family, even total strangers are more than happy to lend a hand……Again, thank you sir for such a inspiration message.
A few people in my life have committed suicide. Interestingly enough, none of them had identified as gay. None of them also did not realize that whatever personal pain they were in was miniscule when compared to the pain their deaths caused for dozens of others.
Kudos, BJJ! you’ve covered it all, pretty much, I could really relate to many of the points made. Adversity was my biggest source of pain in mostly all things civil-law; or lack thereof, employment and housing-discrimination, discrimination within the gay community. My family was of no help in any way, shape or form; pretty dysfunctional, candidly. I gave them an ultimatum, of which they seemed numb to; didn’t realize the challenge given them. So, I left my home State, I realized they really didn’t know how to give each other emotional support, my now ex- was/is an alcoholic, just a plethora of dynamics, all at once hit me. The only thing holding me together, was my job which I absolutely loved; racism killed that and that was the straw the broke the camel’s back. I got ‘some’ help psychologically, plus a psychiatrist told me something most beneficial. “Its not you, the world isn’t ready for you, being a young intelligent gay black man,” this has become an epidemic; young black gay men committing suicide because of their race/sexual-orientation, thus discrimination. I take no meds, just lots of green leafy veggies, get outside; I remembered something Katharine Hepburn said, “when you’re down go out into nature, how healing it is.” Self-medicating is just drug abuse, admittedly, endless string of meaningless sex ,will, drag you down; God forbid, you should contract std’s/hiv. I’m doing better because I’m not dealing with employment discrimination, nor the gay community at large, except at an arms length; as there’s just way too much dysfunction going on there, too. And for me, a sense of spirituality-not to be confused with religion, helps a great deal. Recognizing negative folks and staying away from them, eating healthy, getting enough adequate sleep, limiting alcohol, I like wine or been no liquor, though, music is really helpful, too. You probably can’t completely lick-it, be you can be in control of it, rather than it leading you to your own self-destruction. You can find some happiness in just being alive each and every day, for at least a few hour a day, one day at a time.