Suicide: A means of death, not a cause of death.
Alison Dunn
Charity Chief Executive Officer, Solicitor, Social Justice Activist, Chair of Trustees for VONNE and Executive Director of Society Matters CIC
Every person represents a person, a person who was a priority to someone. That is a fact. And when we talk about statistics around suicide this can be lost sometimes.
The causes of suicide are diverse, tragic and personal. But this common mischaracterisation highlights a wider issue. It harks back to an era where suicide was sinful. A crime committed against society. A tragic failing of the individual rather than a wider societal issue.
You might expect that we have moved on from these outdated notions. Especially with the recent publication of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy yet, you'd be wrong. There are still high profile signs of this thinking, such as the Office for National statistics continuing to note suicide as a CAUSE of death rather than a MEANS of death.
So where are we in our efforts to prevent suicide and what should a national strategy be looking to achieve? These are the questions I posed to my expert guests Paul Vittles and ? Evelina Dzimanaviciute on this month’s episode of This is The North. And while the National Suicide Prevention Strategy was welcomed. It perhaps does not go far enough.
Perception is Everything
How we view a problem determines how we will tackle it.
Relatively low and relatively steady has been the traditional characterisation of UK suicide rates, and for some it would seem that is to be applauded. Its not got worse, right?
And it would seem this perception that suicide rates are holding rather than rising, that this fact alone means the UK is doing as well if not better than some other European countries, has driven policy. But should we determine our standards by comparing ourselves to others? Or should we be aiming for better. Well experts, such as my guests this month, think we need to do more because "every suicide represents a person, a person who was a priority to someone".
They start from the perspective that most suicides are preventable, and if you ask the public this same question they tend to agree suicide can be prevented. And so, when you look at the UK stats through this lens, it is easy to conclude that the UK rates are needlessly high.
So while the goal of the current strategy to reduce suicides in the UK is welcomed. Perhaps we should be aiming higher and be working towards a zero suicide society.
Listen to Those Who Know
Suicide as a subject is harrowing.
Difficult to talk about. Challenging to listen to. But to move forward, we must find a way to have uncomfortable conversations.
Engaging with people who have experiences to share. That is the best way to broaden our knowledge. To understand the relationship between the context and the people. To identify the themes that underpin suicide in today’s society.
Themes of insecurity, identity, disparity and belief systems. Societal themes. Issues we must tackle together. Because suicide is a symptom of a lack of hope.
And it is society's responsibility to ensure everyone has hope.
Tackling the Priority Trap
The enemy of hope is scarcity.
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And unfortunately scarcity often underpins resource allocation. Creating competition and arbitrary prioritisation. Disparity in opportunities and outcomes. Labelling groups as the current focus and others as not.
To address the most challenging issues we must start by sharing. Working collaboratively, learning continuously and building knowledge together. We must integrate departments and systems. Collating a strategy around micro actions that can apply to everyone. Actions such as mandatory training for health professionals. Impact assessments on new legislation. And designing out the opportunities for suicide in public places.
Society’s Commitment
I left this month's discussion thinking about humility, and today as I write this I have only gratitude and here's why.
I was humbled by the bravery of those engaged in suicide prevention work. The boldness of the aims of organisations such as The Jordan Legacy . And the possibility of a zero suicide society. But also by the personal skills that we discussed. Things we can all learn to help and support those in need. Simple but vital skills. Like asking direct questions, active listening and the ability to hold a safe space for others to explore their emotions. Skills I will revisit and focus on in my own life and which, in a shocking turn of events, I had reason to use just a matter of weeks after this recording. Had I not had this conversation with Paul Vittles and ? Evelina Dzimanaviciute its very possible someone I love dearly could be in these numbers, but when it came up close and personal, I knew what to do, how to do it, and what to do afterwards.
None of us have all the answers when it comes to topics like suicide, but this aside it once again a fact that we can all do something about it, and collectively those little things add up to big things. Hearing Paul and Evelina speak, knowing about the work of the Jordan Legacy, and having experienced the not just one, but two, traumatic events myself, I believe that it is right that we commit as a society to reducing and then eradicating suicide in our communities.
Take a listen and see what you think
Affected by this? Feeling Suicidal? Need help?
Witnessed a suicide?
Lost someone to suicide?
Finally .... there's more!
And after listening to this episode, please consider checking out the previous episodes of This is the North covering the topics of industrial heritage in episode 1, and the housing crisis in episode 2, where I talk with expert guests to understand the underlying issues and what we can all do about them - seeking out solutions for the North, from the North.
Young Women's Outreach Project Making a difference in young women & young mothers lives is our passion.
10 个月Alison Dunn. It's a fab podcast, as always; I love them, but I was a little hesitant in listening to this one ... finding my own son (aged 30) autistic with a belt around his neck recently..... I only found him via a mother's intuition. Otherwise, I don't think he would be here. There is so much that needs to change... I could talk about it forever..... I rang 999 and lay with him on the floor for the emergency red light ambulance that turned up 2.5 hours later... (The triggers for him were all that was discussed in the podcast:nty, money, uncertairelationships and more.) Finally, I got to the hospital and sat in A&E (another trigger for him as his dad died in that hospital and was the last place he saw him) .... after a couple of hours, I asked if I could take him home, as by this point he rocking backwards and forwards and getting worse ... she said I couldn't leave with him. Told my son and asked him what he wanted to do ... he said Mum, we will wait a little longer (during this time, he's getting worse) 2 hours later, I went up to the desk and explained that my son was struggling more by being there if I took him home with me that I would bring him back later... to be told if I left that they would ring the police! wow
Audit Operations Assistant at KPMG UK & Be Mindful Committee Assistant Network Member / Neurodiversity and Social Mobility Networks Security Champion
10 个月Such an important post. Once again can I urge anyone who is suffering to ignore people who say you should keep it in yourself. This is complete nonsense and the longer people have this utterly ridiculous view, the longer we will have to put up with this sad place for some people Please please please open up and look for help. I did it at my company and I have had so much support. It will only help you and not hinder you
Charity Chief Executive Officer, Solicitor, Social Justice Activist, Chair of Trustees for VONNE and Executive Director of Society Matters CIC
10 个月Thanks for sharing my post Leanne Howlett
Supporting construction companies to enhance operational efficiency and growth | Using my own lived experiences to support others and share stories to forge honest and meaningful connections with the public/media
10 个月By the way, not everyone finds suicide harrowing to talk about, per se. Perhaps at times when the body reminds us of what happened suddenly (in my case, witnessing the aftermath of my dad's suicide comes flooding back at times, which I put down to trauma), but happens less often 10 years on from his death. Many of my lived experience peers and colleagues are able to talk about the subject head-on, which enables them/us to provide peer support to others who have experienced bereavement by suicide. ??
Supporting construction companies to enhance operational efficiency and growth | Using my own lived experiences to support others and share stories to forge honest and meaningful connections with the public/media
10 个月I like that, a means of death. So obvious now I come to think about it! It was the way my dad died, but the cause was his physical and then mental decline as he advanced in age. Enlightening. ??