2 truths, 1 lie about Suicide.

Hey you!

It’s the month of September - Suicide Awareness Month.

It is beyond important to recognize suicide as the growing dilemma that it is and join the conversation of how to stop our people, friends and family from becoming numbers on a statistics board.

So, Let’s play a game!

Here’s how it’ll work,

I’ll drop three statements about suicide, two are true and one is a lie, your job is to be the first to comment which is a lie and you’ll win the game and a prize.

Now while I will share a little information about each post, I will not provide the answers in this blog, probably just leave you more confused.

May the best reader win!

NB: Please proceed with caution, explanatory trigger words are used in this post, if you need help or are having suicidal thoughts, please reach out with a direct message using the form below or contact help lines such as Nigerian Suicide Prevention Initiative Counselling Centre 234 806 210 6493.

Putting that aside, let's get started!

Thinking time

Statement 1

“Men are more likely to die by suicide, but women attempt suicide more often.”

What do you think?

Men have a lot going on in this day and age as I iterated in my previous post on The Man’s Box.

I’m talking norm constraints, anxiety on personal value, the need for approval, the drive for independence, reluctance to share emotions and it’s not so farfetched to say that they are quite liable to suicidal thoughts when it all gets too hard. A sad reality. 

Women aren’t strangers to hardship either. 

It’s progressively harder to just be happy as a girl, you have to worry about so many things, appearance, beauty standards, education, their future, even safety and they’re stereotypically more emotional than men folk, do you think that makes them more heightened and likely to commit suicide for the same problems a man could face? Who knows?

In the society at large, many factors like poor living standards, insecurity, school pressure, familial expectations and a whole lot more, It’s enough for any gender to just decide to unalive themselves especially when it seems like they’re having no win.

So with this insight, how about you read the statement again and answer, true or false?

Statement 2

“People who talk about suicide are unlikely to actually attempt it.”

Are people who are very vocal about suicide and it’s dangers less likely to commit it or are just disguisers?

It’s smart to believe that those who talk about suicide won’t follow through, but what if it’s often a cry for help?

To continue that train of thought though would possibly mean that many people who advocate against suicide, run organizations and have strong opinions about suicide, I mean we all know they’re a lot of people who do this, are steps away from committing the act.

Is that really true?

So, believe the speaker or worry about the speaker, what’s your move and answer?

Statement 3

“Suicide is often linked to mental health disorders, especially depression and anxiety.”

Another food for thought.

It’s one thing for someone to be depressed, anxious or have mental health dilemmas but does it necessarily create a gate way to committing suicide?

Let’s keep it in mind that there are various ways to cope, anti- depressants, therapy, medical treatment but one has to have access to these things for them to work though, right?

Though, one wave of depression or anxiety could be all it takes to pick up a firearm and attempt self harm but it’s definitely not easy to do it too.

Someone who’s agonized by depression is either liable to unalive themselves or not?

It probably depends on the person, their environmental factors and their support system.

Think about it and decide, is the statement true or false?

I await your answers in the comments. You have to be fast and accurate, you could be the lucky winner of my prize (*winks)

Copyright: Freepik.

On a final note, 

Suicide is a complex and tragic issue, but it's also preventable.

This month, in honor of National Suicide Prevention Month, make a difference - 

• Join the movement by raising awareness about mental health.

• Educating yourself and those you know on the warning signs.

• Be a source of support to those who may be struggling. 

• Share resources & engage in open conversations about mental health.

• Promote kindness and compassion in your space.

These warning signs include but aren’t limited to:

• Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.

• Changes in sleeping habits, either too much or too little.

• Risky behavior.

• Intense frequent mood changes.

• Gradual withdrawal from friends, family and community.

• Expression of hopelessness and talk about wanting to unalive themselves.

You are charged to be vigilant!

Be the reason we all have hope to live.

Every conversation and action counts in preventing suicide and saving lives.

Thank you for reading this update, please share, like and comment, don’t forget the game either!

I wish you the best in life and reprieve from all your troubles.

Love, Jojo.