Mental Health Talk With Sewanu: What to do when you notice someone is SUICIDAL

As a student and someone who gets overwhelmed with stories, I read stories about people committing and attempting suicide. I thought they were just mere stories and people were too hyper about those stories. I remember vividly when someone chirped making a recipe with snipper to take his life. I felt he was trying to get people’s attention. I thought it was for clout;  you know how people want to trend and hence come up with stories. I remember how I laughed about it and even told my friends I was going to try something like that. I never knew the case was real and that the victim was already lifeless in his apartment.

Oh! His suicide was real. Now, backward to his previous tweets I read, he had always complained of not doing well in his business and he has always complained of failing simple tasks in his workplace. He once tweeted “Imagine being the smartest kid while in school and now the dumbest” he went ahead to tweet “I failed the simplest task that a dumb ass will do with eyes closed, what is wrong with me?” and then “What if I try a new recipe with snipper, people won’t care because I am a shame to everyone who knows me. I hope angels welcome me with a big hug when I get to heaven, Lol😅” …

Due to the increased rate of social media use today, a lot of people who attempt suicide most times post on their social media handles before their suicide mission. Nevertheless, not everyone whose posts are related to suicide attempts suicide.  Asides from coming out on social media, there are different warning signs that victims display and it is essential to be our brother’s keeper as we take note of the signs.

Check my previous post on the warning signs for suicide here.

The guy in question, immediately people saw his post, close friends, colleagues, and families started trying to reach out to him and were able to rescue him immediately.

What drew my attention to that case was the various tweets on people speaking up and talking to someone when they are going through challenges. Some tweeted “You can always talk to me, I am here for you”, “Suicide is not the best option, you are putting your loved ones in a situation they will never recover from” another replied a tweet with ” How many of you listen to people or are nice to people”.  Hmm, you get the gist ehn?

It is more than asking people to speak up, it is more of being nice and watching out for signs of suicide and providing the appropriate support and care that will be beneficial to such individuals. Imagine if everyone really watches out for people around them and also notices any deviation from normal in such persons?          

What do you do when you notice someone is suicidal? Here are some tips to help or support an individual who shows signs of committing suicide.

• Show concern. Let them know you are concerned and you care about them. Check up on them, be compassionate, be gentle, and stay calm.

• Ask them questions; try not to be insensitive and always ask questions that will encourage them to talk. ” How have you been coping with all that is happening?,  Do you ever feel like giving up? Do you think of committing suicide or do you think killing yourself will solve the problem?” etc are examples of questions you can use.

Always know that people might not open up at first, so try to create rapport and gain trust. Don’t pressure them to talk to you and also avoid giving advice.

• Ask about their feelings and listen. Pay attention and look them in the eye as they talk. If it is through chat messages, you can send emojis or stickers that show that you are listening.

• Do not blame them for their situation. Avoid comparing them with others of similar situations.

Try not to ask about people’s feelings when you know you won’t listen or if you will judge them. It can prevent them from talking to you or others about it. Listen!

• Remove every access or items they can use to harm themselves. It is advisable to inform close friends and families about their plans or suicide attempts to keep them safe. 

They might inform you to not tell others about them. Disagree with them and give them genuine and appropriate reasons why you disagree.

• Assist and encourage them to access professional services, like a doctor, counsellor or therapist. You can offer to help them make an appointment and also go with them if they agree.
• Never leave them alone till they get the appropriate help needed.

Avoid, handling the situation yourself, involve a professional.

Services that offer support for mental health issues including suicide

Below are services that provide support for mental health issues in Nigeria:

Asido Foundation helpline  09028080416 ( SMS or WhatsApp) Send your name, preferred method of communication, and concerns you would like to speak about.

She Writes Woman Health Initiative 08008002000

Nigerian Suicide Prevention Initiative 0806 210 6493 or  0809 210 6493

Lagos suicide hotlines, by the Lagos State Government  08058820777 and 09030000741

LUTH Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative (SURPIN) 09080217555, 09034400009, 08111909909 and 07013811143

#Staywoke! #SaveJames😎 #Benice😎 #CheckuponShade😎 #Showsomelove😍

Anticipate! Myths and Misconception of Suicide😎