Suicide Awareness Month: Monday Myths #1

Trigger Warning: suicide and suicidal ideation

A sculpture of Icarus by Panikkos Spanos. Image credit: Dimitris Vetsikas via Pixabay

September is National Suicide Awareness Month (in the US, but I’m choosing to adopt it for the UK).

This is the first in a set of 4 attempts to bust some of the key myths about suicide – and offer some advice about what to do instead.

There are many pervasive and even persuasive myths surrounding the topic of suicide, including – but not limited to – variations on the following:

1) Only certain types of people have suicidal ideas: Those with mental illness, adults, young adults, teenagers, women, men…

2) There are never signs / there are always clear signs: You just never know and these are the things to watch out for that definitely mean…

3) There is a simple set of reasons that might trigger these thoughts and actions: Mental illness, massive trauma, genetic disposition…

4) The motives are always…: Attention seeking, weakness, selfishness, laziness, revenge, seeking death…

5) You must never talk about it, as it will…: Make them worse, give them ideas, be pointless, not be taken seriously…

6) The things people try to stop it are pointless: Talking doesn’t help, therapies and medications don’t work, preventative geography and safety procedures don’t work…

Today, let’s have a quick look at the first on that list:

Only certain types of people have suicidal ideas

I’m hoping you already know the answer to this one:

Anyone could find themselves struggling in this way

That said, there are groups of people who – statistically at least – might be at more risk:

“Figures tell us that men, divorced people and those living in less well-off areas are at greater risk of suicide”

(source: UK Office for National Statistics)

But as the ONS say themselves – these facts tell only part of the story. Here is at least part of the bigger tale:

• 1 in 4 people have thought about suicide at some time in their life (source: Samaritans)
• While mental illness can be a significant risk factor for suicide, many people who experience suicidal thoughts or behaviours do not have a mental illness – and over half of those who lose their lives this way were not living with a known mental health condition (source: Lifeline)
• Men account for just under 75% of those who lose their lives by suicide in England and Wales (source: UK Parliament) – the reasons for this are complex, but likely include a mix of internal and external pressures (source: Priory) and that men will often chose a more violent method (source: BBC)
• Suicide one of the leading causes of death in children and young people (source: RCPCH), but risk is actually lower for those under 20.
• For men the highest risk age groups are those between 35 and 59 (in particular aged 45-49) and another spike for those aged 80+ (source: UK Parliament)
• For women there is a spike at ages 50-54, but risk remains fairly constant across age brackets (source: UK Parliament)
• It is the second most common cause of death for those who are homeless (source: Samaritans)
• Research strongly suggests that those within the LGBTQ+ communities are more at risk of suicidal thoughts, not least because of self- and external feelings of stigma and shame, and the impact of phobic experiences (source: Samaritans)
• Self-harm is not usually signs of a failed suicide attempt or suicidal ideation (thoughts) (source: NHS)
• Trauma is of course incredibly complex, but can be a significant informing factor in suicidal ideation and action (source: Papyrus). It is important to remember that people process things in different ways, and just because you don’t think you would have trauma in the same situation, this doesn’t mean someone else wont.
• Trauma can be a one-off event such as an injury, accident or assault, witnessing something happen to someone else, the end of a relationship or job, the passing of a loved one (including pets) or be the result of cumulative factors such as poor physical or mental health (source: Mental Health Foundation)

All of the above is scratching the surface of what is actually happening.

I’ve shared it with you as an illustration that things can be complex, and as a reminder to always take the issue seriously.

One of the best ways we can tackle this myth is to continue to destigmatise the wider issues, acknowledge the burdens that we all carry, check in with those around us, and be honest about how we sometimes feel.

I’m here if you need to chat about any of the above more.

Other Myths in the series:

Myth 2: “You just never know…” and “these are the things to watch out for that definitely mean…” if someone is feeling suicidal and/or has plans.

Myth 3: “The simple set of reasons behind suicidal thoughts”

Myth 4: “You must never talk to someone about suicide“

A postscript: “Post suicide awareness, erm, awareness”