SHARES
As much as I try to get on with my day after reading about another person being a casualty to the destructive nature of mental illness, the sadness lingers on. Today, this morning, news came that a student from Taylor’s University has tragically committed suicide.
While a mere 24 hours ago, Malaysian news outlets reported of a 16-year-old girl in Sarawak committed suicide. Disturbingly, she took the plunge after 69% of pollsters on her Instagram account supported the decision to kill herself via a voting poll. She fell from the third floor of a shop lot.
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, patron of The Malaysia Psychiatric Association said in an interview with the Star “these incidents have exposed the low awareness of mental health issues in Malaysia”. In the light of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) estimates that each year, approximately one million people die from suicide. By 2020 the rate of suicide will increase to one every 20 seconds.
With attention to the incidence of suicide rising at an alarming rate, experts highlighted that suicide is preventable. In light of that, I’d like to believe that suicide prevention is everyone’s business! Even if it’s someone you’re not close to, you may be able to make a difference in his life with your intervention.
How can you help prevent suicide?
Follow these 3 simple tips to help someone you know is in distress
1. “ You’re Not Alone”
In an interview with Bustle, Joshua Klapow, PhD, clinical psychologist and host of The Kurre and Klapow Show, says “Offer empathy and support. ‘I care about you even though we don’t know each other or we haven’t seen each other in a while. We can see you are hurting. I don’t want you to suffer and I want to help”.
He adds, “Do not try and convince them that their feelings are not real (i.e. it’s not that bad, you have so much to be happy about, etc).”
2. “ Hey, Do You Wanna Talk About It ?”
Dr. Erika Martinez, licensed psychologist, says “Start a dialogue with them to show you care.” Troubled people commonly tend toward denial, withdrawal, and self-isolation in reaction to deeply felt emotional pain. Hence that is why they often suffer in silence. That is why, it’s high time we encourage and show that there is strength in letting their feelings show.
3. “You know what, there are people who want to help you”
Essentially, you can also help them by encouraging these people to seek out psychological/psychiatric professionals and or trained counselors.
The Befrienders in Malaysia and SOS Samaritans of Singapore are great options. Each organization offer face-to-face appointments, a 24-hour hotline and also numerous outreach programs.
Malaysia: Befrienders at 603-0956 8145
Or Email: sam@befrienders.org.my
Singapore: SOS (Samaritans of Singapore) at 1800-221 4444
Or Email: pat@sos.org.sg
You can search, find, call, send enquiry or request for appointment with a Psychiatrist/Psychologist on GetDoc:
Find a Psychiatrist/Psychologist in Malaysia, on GetDoc
Find a Psychiatrist/Psychologist in Singapore, on GetDoc
by Yashwini Ravindranath
Born & raised in Malaysia, Yashwini earned her M.D. studying in Moscow's Russian National Research Medical University. With an affiliation towards research, all things coffee and the startup ecosystem, she now contributes articles to GetDocSays View all articles by Yashwini Ravindranath.
