Millions of people and their families experience the effects of suicide every year, which is a global public health issue. The World Health Organization estimates that 800,000 individuals worldwide commit suicide each year, making it one of the major causes of death globally.

India accounts for more than 1/4th of global suicides. Behind every suicide death in India, there are more than 15 attempts for suicide and more than 200 people with suicidal ideation. The recent National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data on “Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India” reports that the suicide rate has increased from 10.2 in 2018 to 10.4 in 2019. There is a 3.4% rise in suicide compared to the previous year, which is alarming.

Creating hope via action in the face of such a dire problem is not only crucial but also morally required. In order to inspire hope and save lives, this article examines the value of adopting proactive actions to prevent suicide.

Here are some strategies and actions that can be implemented to prevent suicide:

Raise Awareness:

• Initiate public awareness initiatives to lessen the stigma associated with suicide and mental health issues.
• Inform the general public of suicide warning signals and suitable responses.

Expand financing for mental health services:

Mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse, are often associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

• Assure that mental health services are reasonable, available, and considerate of cultural differences.
• Increase access to telehealth services for people living in rural locations.

The COVID pandemic forced the expansion of telehealth for suicide prevention, which is still underresearched, wrote Simon Fraser University psychologist Alexander Chapman, PhD, and Philippa Hood in a recent commentary (The Behavior Therapist, Vol. 43, No. 8, 2020).

Screening and Early Intervention:

Introduce regular mental health screenings in educational institutions, places of employment, and healthcare facilities.

Teach educators, medical staff, and emergency personnel how to spot and handle indicators of mental distress.

DeVylder and colleagues (2019) evaluated the ASQ as a universal and selective suicide risk screen for youth presenting to a pediatric ED with psychiatric or behavioral concerns. Positive screens were 8% and 30% in the universal and selective screening samples, respectively.

Crisis Hotlines and Support:

• Create and advertise text-based support services and crisis hotlines for people in need.
• Establish peer support networks and support groups to bring together others who have similar experiences.

Community Involvement:

• Participate in local programs and initiatives to involve communities in suicide prevention efforts.
• Encourage neighbourhood groups to host activities that advance mental health and well-being.

A recent study led by Columbia University psychologist Barbara Stanley, Ph.D., which used ecological momentary assessment to track how suicidal individuals coped with suicidal thoughts, found that distraction-based techniques, such as keeping busy or socializing, were best at lowering the intensity of suicidal thoughts (Journal of Psychiatric Research, Vol. 133, 2021).

Warning Signs:

There are common warning signs that may indicate someone is at risk of suicide. These include talking about wanting to die, expressing feelings of hopelessness, withdrawing from social activities, and giving away possessions.

Meanwhile, around half of people who attempt or die by suicide deny suicidal ideation beforehand (McHugh, C. M., et al. BJPsych Open, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2019).

Firearm Safety:

• Enact responsible gun storage and purchase laws to restrict access to fatal suicide weapons.
• Inform gun owners on proper gun storage techniques and the heightened suicide risk that comes with owning a gun.

Anestis and his colleagues have found that those who buy guns in response to threatening events—such as the COVID-19 pandemic—are more likely to have experienced recent and lifetime suicidal ideation (American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Vol. 60, No. 3, 2021).

School-Based Programs:

• Create school-based initiatives with a support and education component for mental health.
• Provide educators with the training they need to spot at-risk pupils and connect them to the right resources.

The Youth Aware of Mental Health Program (YAM), which was designed primarily for high school students, was found to improve students’ help-seeking and mental health literacy and to decrease stigma at 3-month follow-up (Lindow et al. 2020).

Workplace Wellness:

• Encourage employee assistance programs (EAPs) and wellness programs to promote mental health and well-being.
• Promote a welcoming workplace where staff members feel free to talk about their mental health.

Parent and Caregiver Education:

• Give parents and other adults in charge of children and adolescents resources and advice on how to spot and deal with indicators of mental distress.
• Promote open dialogue about mental health within families.

Multisystemic therapy (MST) is another family-centered intervention that uses a home-based approach and provides. Youth were randomly assigned to MST following a psychiatric crisis, relative to those who were psychiatrically hospitalized, reported fewer suicide attempts and psychiatric symptoms at 1-year follow-up (Huey et al. 2004).

Cultural Sensitivity:

Suicide prevention strategies should be culturally sensitive and consider the unique challenges and beliefs of different communities.

Postvention:

Offer counselling and support services to friends and family who have experienced a loss.

Legislation and Policy:

• Push for laws that support equal access to mental health services and parity in the field.
• Encourage the adoption of laws that will restrict access to deadly weapons and prevent suicide.

The Mental Health Care Act (MHCA), 2017, Section 115, has attempted to decriminalize the suicide attempt, also India launched its National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS) on Nov 21, 2022. This is the first policy in India to make suicide prevention a public health priority.

Concrete steps to prevent suicide is not only a laudable goal but also a moral requirement. We can lessen the tragic effects of suicide by comprehending the elements that cause hopelessness, increasing mental health understanding, providing accessible resources, educating the public, establishing support networks, providing crisis intervention, and encouraging research and innovation.

I would like to conclude with the ideology that I follow: 

"Every life is worth saving, and there is hope even in the darkest moments."

.    .    .