Unspoken problems can fester and lead to irrational thoughts that can eventually leave a person feeling that suicide is the only option. Suicide is a significant factor that occurs on a regular basis throughout the world, taking the lives of those dearly to us. The topic of suicide is a complex one to grasp and can originate from supressed thoughts of varying emotions that may seem initially harmless. Although many people surpass the thoughts of suicide or a state of despair in times of highly stressful circumstances many do not act upon these thoughts. However, even thoughts or planning of suicide should be addressed which brings about the aim of spreading awareness to unite and regain happiness to those silently struggling.
The statistics from the Samaritans Suicide show that during their 2017 report, 6,188 people in the UK had committed suicide. It is said that Males are consistently at a higher risk than Females of being affected by this. However, this does not just mean we should be worried about just Males. Females are also at risk. Mental Health is so difficult to identify, which is why this blog has been written, too hopefully urge people to realise how important it is. Also, the most important aspect of this writing is to make those who suffer with Mental Health aware that talking about their feelings is not a bad thing.
What types of mental illnesses are there?
A mental illness isa condition that causes serious alterations in a person’s behaviour or thoughts. Below is a list showing disorders to be aware of:
· Schizophrenia
· Depression
· Stress
· Bipolar Disorder
· Anxiety Disorder
· Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
· Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
· Psychosis
· Personality Disorder
· Eating Disorder
I started to write the list and realised there are over 30 mental illnesses. If you type in on google, ‘examples of mental illnesses’ a list is presented at the top with tons of information on individual mental illnesses which is important to find out as you, your friends, your family or someone you may know could have. Which again is useful if you are wanting to help that certain person or people.
What are the causes of suicide?
The question of what causes suicide, is one that many may not be aware of. All of us go through problems every day. These could be the reason that people begin to adapt a negative thought process. The NHS suggest that many ways determine how vulnerable a person is to suicidal thinking and behaviour. See list below for examples given by the NHS.
- Life history – having a traumatic experience during childhood, a history of sexual or physical abuse, or a history of parental neglect.
- Mental health – developing a serious mental health condition, such as schizophrenia.
- Lifestyle – if you misuse drugs or alcohol.
- Employment – such as poor job security, low levels of job satisfaction or being unemployed.
- Relationships – being socially isolated, being a victim of bullying or having few close relationships.
- Genetics – family history.
Ways to help manage thoughts?
Before planning and writing this piece of work, one of the first things that come into my mind and edged me closer to writing, was to gather ways in which people deal with their thoughts. Although personally, I feel that discussing your problems is the best way to feel better about yourself, some do not agree and will not want to do so. However, I have spoken to a few people and asked how they deal with such events and I have also spoken to a couple people who are in the career of Mental Health and below is what I gathered. These apply to those who fall in both the young and elderly category.
- Exercise – Does not have to be anything too full on, even a game of Pool can help.
- Distraction techniques – Such as Music or Cooking and so on.
- Writing into a diary everyday – Writing into a diary is similar to expressing your feelings however they are kept where no one else can see. The important part of this is being expressive about your emotions and having a off-load of bad thoughts.
- Temperature Distraction – Playing with ice cubes in your hand which distracts your mind and allows it to focus on the coldness of the cubes.
- Counselling – Talking to someone professional may take the embarrassing aspect away of opening up about suicide.
- Connect – Maintain healthy contact with friends and family; know who your back up team is.
- Give – Participation in social and community life has attracted a lot of attention in the field of wellbeing research; giving of yourself and your time brings its own rewards!
- Take notice – Increase your awareness as studies have shown that being aware of what is taking place in the present, directly enhances your well-being and savouring ‘the moment’ can help to reaffirm your life priorities: carpe diem – cease the day!
If you find yourself questioning your life and wondering where it’s all going or if you find yourself doing unusual things outside of your normal habitats, like not eating properly, waking at nights, struggling to motivate yourself. Stop yourself and ask: what’s happening to me? Think it through. What is the root cause of my unhappiness, misery or confusion?
And then think what do I do now? Do I need to call my back-up team, those people who love me and accept me for who I am? Do I need some time out from my current situation, to do something different or get away for a while? Do I need to access all the helpful advice there is online? Do I need to go to the doctors or access therapy?
Whatever you do, treat yourself gently and with kindness, be cautious and courageous about what you are experiencing and try to slowly regain your balance. Remember we are all vulnerable and all need help sometimes. There is nothing wrong about this. Indeed, it could actually mean you are starting to see life in a different way and want to refresh the way you are or where you want to go.
Helpful Organisations – Tiny info from their website attached
We provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. Because of Mind, millions more people have access to advice and support thanks to our information and services nationally and locally, in England and Wales. We’re building on change, but we know there is much more to do. Over more than 60 years, Mind has worked to improve the lives of all people with experience of mental health problems. Through public campaigns, government lobbying and more than 1,000 services our local Minds teams have delivered in communities across England and Wales, touching millions of lives.
https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/gps/mental-health.htm
We are a foundation trust and provide a wide range of integrated health services including:
· 12 community hospitals and the minor injuries units
· Community and inpatient mental health services
· Specialist learning disability services
· Community integrated service, including:
speech and language therapy, diabetes education, safeguarding children, sexual health promotion, wheelchair services, addiction services, podiatry, health visitors, school nursing, end of life care, district nurses, dermatology, orthopaedics, community brain injury services and audiology.
We serve a population of over 700,000 people and organise ourselves across 13 locality areas. We employ over 5,000 staff covering a range of expertise and specialisms and have a budget of around £255 million.
We are regulated by NHS Improvement, who support foundation trusts to give patients consistently safe, high quality, compassionate care that is financially sustainable. By holding us to account and where necessary, intervening. NHS Improvement help us meet our short-term challenges and secure our future.
Stress of importance of talking to people!
To finalise this topic and awareness writing, I feel as this may be the most important part, and to those who have given this a read, I would like to firstly thank you for taking the time too. I would be more than happy to discuss this issue with anyone if anyone would like too, as I would love to hear what others have to say about this topic. Let’s make it easier for people to talk.
As a population, we have lost so many people to committing suicide when all it may have taken was someone to be aware that there are people out there who care for them, but they might just not realise. People may look like they are happy and enjoying life but the sad thing about that it is sometimes a front, to ensure that their loved ones are happy. Which is where I come down to the part where I cannot stress enough that we should always check up on our loved ones to make sure they are being looked after. For all you know, a small invite to take your family or friends for a day out, a beer, a kick around or whatever your hobbies are, could be the difference between having or losing someone.
The most important message which I want you all to take from this writing is that speaking out is not seen as weaknesses, it is shown as courageous and strong, because talking about your feelings is one of the most difficult things that we as people can do. I cannot stress enough how important it is to show feelings, and the sooner we do this and the more often we do this, the happier the world will be.
And before I end this I want to say that I hope this helps anyone suffering with Mental Health because I know there are a lot of people who are, but remember, do not hide behind a smile because,you’ve got a friend in me.
Share the love….
J. Jenkins.
