Working together to prevent suicide

September 10, 2019
​​You can help prevent suicide! Yes, you, the lay person, the man or woman on the streets of Malaysia, are a key player, and not just the psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors and lay helpers in NGOs. You can make a difference – as a member of society, as a child, as a parent, as a friend, as a colleague or as a neighbor.

This is what this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) theme is pleading for: “Working Together to Prevent Suicide”; that everyone needs to be involved. This has been the theme for the past two years and will continue till next year too. It only emphasizes the fact that no one group of people can help to prevent suicide, and the so-called “professionals”, however well-intentioned and hardworking, cannot cope with the demand for mental health care in our country.

The lay person cannot deal with mental illnesses in the way the medical and mental health professionals can. But there is so much that can be done to help those who are troubled and despairing so that they do not deteriorate to the point of hopelessness and wanting to end their lives.
 
125 attempt suicide everyday
The statistics are stark and heart-wrenching. Worldwide, there are over 800,000 deaths by suicide, which equates to one suicide every 40 seconds. In Malaysia, on average there are five deaths by suicide everyday with 1,760 in a year – too many since suicide is preventable.

This is a very conservative estimate based on the World Health Organization’s statistics of 5.5 deaths per 100,000 population in Malaysia each year. While there are no clear official figures and records for definitive statistics in the country, academic researchers put the figures at more than twice that.

Every life lost represents someone’s partner, child, parent, friend or colleague. For each suicide, approximately 135 people suffer intense grief or are otherwise affected.

The deaths in themselves are tragic. But further adding to the concern is that for every one suicide, 25 people attempt suicide and many more have suicide ideation. That means each day, 125 Malaysians attempt to kill themselves. These are people who initially felt anxious, stressed, depressed, a little helpless and struggled on to the point of great unbearable despair and hopelessness.

One psychiatrist per 80,000 patients
Suicide is the result of a convergence of genetic, psychological, social and cultural and other risk factors, sometimes combined with experiences of trauma and loss. In many cases there is the absolute need to see a psychiatrist, psychologist or counselor, and this professional help needs to be hand in hand with the emotional support of people around the person with a mental health problem.

The professionals alone cannot cope. We have about 400 psychiatrists in the whole country, i.e. one psychiatrist to treat every 80,000 persons, while the ratio for clinical psychologists stands at 0.2 per 100,000 individuals. WHO’s recommended number for a country is one psychiatrist to treat every 10,000.

Programs by individual ministries
The various ministries for welfare, health and youth are well aware of the importance of mental health care and have extensive programs to address the issue. The Education Ministry has already been carrying out screening in schools for depression, anxiety and stress and giving students the help they need. More preventive programmes are being planned to instill resilience in youth, including engaging parents and the public in mental health care.

The Ministry of Health is underway with programmes and policies for the 2019-2025 period, targeting common mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression and stress before people experiencing these become helpless, hopeless and ultimately suicidal.

Even the Communication and Multimedia Ministry has shown support for suicide prevention efforts in getting major telcos in the country to provide free calls to The Befrienders - a 24/7 suicide prevention helpline. Many of the people who get in touch with The Befrienders are now more willing to openly share their difficulties in struggling with suicidal thoughts, mental illnesses as well as emotional pain from a variety of life problems.

Your role
A stigma nevertheless remains for many in reaching out to get help and in talking about mental health issues and suicide in personal or public conversations. The government, academia, the medical profession and civil society are working to improve mental health care, and further perhaps need to work collaboratively, in a coordinated fashion, using a multidisciplinary approach. But even all of this is not enough due to the sheer scale of the problem.
 
There are several things that you can do daily to prevent suicidal behavior:
  • You can raise awareness about the issue by speaking freely and openly about mental health and suicide.
  • Educate yourself and others about the causes of suicide and warning signs for suicide.
  • Show compassion and care for those who are in distress in your family, workplace community.
  • Learn how to listen to and talk with a troubled person (Not tell them what to do!). Provide a non-judgmental listening ear. This goes a long way.
  • Question the stigma associated with suicide, suicidal behavior and mental health problems. It is ok and good to seek professional mental health care. Talking about it won’t “cause” anyone to be suicidal; instead it gives them relief that they are allowed to let it out, and that they are taken seriously.
  • Share your own experiences. You yourself may need help. Be bold, and reach out. There are a lot of people waiting to give a helping hand.
 
Working together, we can all make a difference and prevent suicide.
 
Justin Victor
Chairman
The Befrienders KL

EXPLORE FURTHER

I need help..." - The silent cries of students suffering from mental health issues

​Identifying key behavioral changes indicating potential mental health issues

Four vital components to well-being

​Holistic approach to mental health: Physical, psychological, social, and spiritual

Are you in a physical - psychological abusive relationship? Key provisions for abuse victims

​The dynamics of psychological and financial abuse in relationships

The devastating effects of domestic violence on pregnant women, fetus and children

​Impact of domestic abuse on children's development and future behavior

Are you sad or depressed? How do you differentiate the two?

​Distinguishing grief from depression

How mental health affects your life

​Exploring the three key areas affected by mental health issues

Survey reveals mental health and stress continue to affect organisation's bottom line

​Impact of health-related absences on Malaysian workplace productivity

A call to create hope for the suicidal

​Addressing the urgency of suicide prevention

​Low rate hospital admission for schizophrenia patients after a year in community psychiatric and rehab service

​Understanding schizophrenia: Symptoms, treatment, and the impact on lives

One psychiatrist per 100,000 population insufficient, says associate professor

​Addressing the mental health crisis: Awareness, education, and support in Malaysia

Arson, animal cruelty and lack of remorse - traits of personality disorders to look out for in a person

​Patterns of behavior and their impact on relationships

When mental illness is mistaken for demonic possession

​Debunking myths: Understanding mental illness beyond historical misconceptions

The psychology behind public masturbation and indecent exposure

​Exploring paraphilias: Understanding fetishes and sexual arousal disorders

Eating disorders - A mental health issue

​Essential facts about mental health and psychiatric disorders