Jodie Vanderslot | Health Editor
Featured Image: You prevent suicide by never allowing someone to get to the point of attempt in the first place. | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
September 10 was World Suicide Awareness Day and under the National Alliance of Mental Illness, September itself is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. It is a time to recognize that although suicide is a difficult topic, it needs to be discussed. Suicide is highly stigmatized,which prevents individuals from openly sharing their feelings and gaining access to resources. However, this month is used to raise awareness about the realities of suicide and mental illness, as it affects more people than we may currently recognize.
Everyone experiences things differently—sometimes, life can be difficult, and problems can pile up so high you can’t possibly see any way around them. There isn’t a guaranteed time frame for when things will get better, and feelings of doubt and distress can seep in. For this, and many other reasons, individuals may feel as though suicide is not just a viable option, but the only option.
Mental illness robs people of their ability to see that second option, to see that taking their own life is not the only possible choice. Suicidal thoughts, like mental illnesses, can affect anyone of any age, race, or gender. Mental illness often lies beneath the surface—it’s not always as visible as a physical illness or impairment, but it’s still there, and it shouldn’t be ignored.
York has roughly 46,400 undergraduate students. Of those, 11.9 per cent reported that they have seriously considered suicide. That is roughly 5,522 people. Those aren’t just percentages—they’re people.
Suicide prevention is about early intervention. It’s about assessing situations, and changing how quickly we respond before things get to the point of attempt. This month is about promoting resources that people may find beneficial, and trying to understand why suicide rates are as high as they are. It’s intended to encourage others to share their stories, and for those with suicidal thoughts to seek help and know that, although they may feel like it, they are never alone and are not the only ones who feel this way.
York’s Personal Counselling Services are open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with extended hours on Tuesday until 7:00 p.m., at N110 Bennett Centre for Student Services. They also provide crisis services for students in distress or experiencing current or recent difficulties or trauma, including stress, self-harm, abuse, suicidal thoughts, the loss of a loved one, and concerns for safety. They can be reached at (416) 736-5297.
Good2Talk is Ontario’s Post-Secondary Student’s 24-hour Helpline, at (1) 866-925-5454. It’s a free, confidential helpline designated for students. The helpline will assist in providing professional counselling and information about services on and off campuses across Ontario.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is just a stepping stone in the grander scheme of things—it helps encourage conversations that openly discuss what the reality of suicide means in our community, and our lives.
