4th December 2022
The British Union Conference Health, Women's Ministries and Community Services Director Sharon PlattMcDonald organised a one-day event- Suicide First Aid, hosted by Ms Allison Armstrong, Director of Training, National Centre for Suicide Prevention Education and Training (NCSPET).
The training was arranged with the intent to but not limited to:
- Create awareness of suicide in our communities
- Educate participants regarding the stigma of suicide
- Enhance our response to suicidal intent.
Suicide is the act of one "taking his/her life".
Suicide was considered a crime in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Legislation in Ireland was proposed to remove the stigma of criminality associated with suicide. Further interventions were aimed at easing the burden of the criminality of suicide on the families of persons who do suicide. Hence the language of "Commit(ed) suicide" has also been deemed to impress criminality, to which a substitute term such as "SUICIDED" is proposed.
According to the Office of National Statistics, there were 524 suicides in 2019, a 5% increase from 2015. A male preponderance of 408 men. They are further strengthening trends that men suicide with grave outcomes relative to women. This trend is multifactorial, with contributors including more grave methods of suicide among men and societal norms limiting men from expressing challenges in their life that contribute to suicide.
Suicide affects its victim, their close friends and family with the impress of suicidal ideation among observers in the community with many other consequences. Suicide is influenced by multiple factors rather than a single event. The scenario of job loss, the end of a relationship, and particular addictions- gambling and alcohol can all work together to provoke suicide.
Challenges in limiting the burden of suicide include underlying health challenges such as depression, limited health professional support, and suboptimal societal response to the burden of suicide and its incidence.
Suicide First Aid emphasises the societal response to suicidal ideation and intent. For suicide first aid to be successful, respondents need to have empathy which, on most occasions, results from personal experience (not mandatory). A heightened level of awareness of suicidal ideation and intent. Ensure a safe environment in the event of suicidal intent, and engage the individual by listening and conversing. For instance, if an individual intended to suicide was found on a bridge, awareness of the same initiates an attempt by a respondent to encourage transfer to a safe environment through verbal engagement. When such a transition is achieved, understanding the underlying events and proffering support should follow. Other interventions include:
- Linking close relatives
- Informing General Practitioners, if applicable
- Associating workplace support, if feasible and applicable
- Establishing follow-up.
Societal awareness of suicidal ideation and intent and engaging with such persons with those with such challenges may help ease the burden of suicide and the difficulty it has on communities.
