World Suicide Prevention Day
Every year on 10th September, organisations and communities come together to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. This year I would like to share my thoughts - particularly on how suicide affects our LGBTQ+ and our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.
As someone who has worked in Liaison Psychiatry for mental health emergencies and has looked at suicide and self-harm in different populations, what’s patently obvious is that every life lost to suicide is a tragedy and behind every death, there is a life story.
Did you know:
Suicide is preventable, yet since 2000, suicide rates in England and Wales have been highest in 2019.[1]
The highest suicide rate in the UK is among men aged 45-49.[2]
Rates of attempted suicide are much higher in South Asian women, especially those aged 16-24. [3]
The power of language
One of the changes we’ve seen in recent years, and something we can all do to reduce the stigma around suicide is in how we talk about it – people die of suicide, they don’t ‘commit’ suicide. In this way, the language we use when talking about suicide can make a huge difference.
The Covid–19 pandemic
Most of us have been affected in one way or another by the Covid-19 pandemic, yet our BAME and LGBTQ+ communities have been impacted disproportionally – whether that’s through higher death rates or through job insecurity or loneliness. Even in regular times, it is widely acknowledged that LGBTQ+ people are more likely to have poor mental health, yet are less likely to access services that may help them.
Anecdotally, mental health professionals feel there has been an increase in referrals to their services recently. Stress and anxiety have risen, and when they rise we know that, generally speaking, more people are at risk of suicide.
The problem with the data
All of this leads us to a problem with how suicide data is collected and reported, which may mean that these at-risk groups are underrepresented in the data. For example, in England, the coroners’ record doesn’t include data on ethnicity or sexual orientation. This represents a missed opportunity as we aren’t able to fully understand the risk factors that contribute to people from these groups dying of suicide. In short, we need better quality data so we can plan the right level of support for our communities.
Support and resources
You don’t need to be a psychiatrist to help someone who’s thinking of suicide. I’ve heard powerful stories of receptionists, porters, nurses and even members of the public who have all helped severely depressed people by taking the time to listen and connect.
If you’re concerned for a friend or loved one, perhaps you’ve noticed early signs of detaching from society, do reach out to them, and support them with accessing help. Support is available from:
The GP
The Samaritans helpline. They are available round the clock, every single day of the year.
MIND – the mental health charity
Specific support for the LGBTQ+ community:
LGBT Foundation on 0345 330 30 30
Sarbat- a support group working with the Sikh LGBTQ+ community
Hidayah - a support group that works with the LGBTQ+ Muslim community
Imaan – The UKs leading LGBTQ+ Muslim charity
Gay Indian Network (GIN)– connects and supports the LGBTQ+ community of Indian heritage and the wider diaspora
Stonewall – resources and support for LGBTQ+ people.
[1] ONS, 2019
[2] The Samaritans, 2019
[3] The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 2002