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Each year, around 800,000 people around the world die by suicide. Some are from large extended families, others feel so alone that they feel they have no one to turn to. Each death affects an average of 135 additional people, equivalent to 108 million people who are affected each year.
The situation can vary greatly depending on the country. Although rates have decreased in Germany in recent decades, suicides account for more deaths than traffic accidents and illegal drug use combined.
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September 10 marks World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), an annual global event organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and co-sponsored by the World Health Organization. It is a day of remembrance to mourn those who have passed away and it also serves as a global call to communicate with one another.
And this year the possible effects of the coronavirus pandemic on suicide rates are a subject of debate among experts.
Measuring the impact of COVID-19
This year’s commemorative and educational activities are carried out under the motto “Working together to prevent suicide”, and adapting the program to measures against the coronavirus has been a challenge.
“We can’t physically touch each other right now, but it’s even more important to interpret the motto in a symbolic way – that we’re actually still there for each other and we take care of each other,” Schneider said.
Experts agree that the effects of the coronavirus pandemic may increase proven risk factors for self-harm, including isolation, anxiety, financial loss, and increased alcohol and drug use.
At the same time, the researchers cautioned against drawing conclusions about the impact of the pandemic on suicide rates, saying the data is not yet available.
“We still don’t know much about the impact of the pandemic on suicides. But of course, there is a strong impact on suicide prevention, particularly as it relates to service delivery,” said Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, researcher and treasurer of the suicide at the IASP told DW.
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Niederkrotenthaler and dozens of fellow researchers are currently helping coordinate and compile studies around the world on suicide prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hope is to come up with policies that help people cope with this pandemic and those to come.
“I think it is important to point out that we don’t necessarily have to reinvent the wheel because of the pandemic, but we really need to see how we can translate what we know before the pandemic into the situation we are in,” he said.
Looking for help online
Although the coronavirus restrictions closed doors, they also opened digital windows.
Crisis hotlines and local groups expanded their reach to offer services online, group sessions were organized through video chats, and therapists were still able to meet with their patients, albeit behind computer screens.
“This is a very unique crisis, also a very unique pandemic, because, for the first time, we have the opportunity to use online services,” according to Niederkrotenthaler, who also heads the suicide research unit at the Medical University of Vienna.
Protest over TikTok video
Where the Internet can be a source of relief and comfort for those facing suicidal thoughts, experts also warn of the damage that some social media content can cause.
The video-sharing app TikTok has come under fire in recent days after a video of an apparent suicide began circulating and later spread to other social media platforms.
TikTok, which is used primarily by younger users, has said that it is working to remove the video, which was allegedly first posted on Facebook. Parents and schools received warnings about the content, with reports of young social media users feeling traumatized after viewing it.
Similar videos have appeared on other sites, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, prompting calls for social media giants to take action against disruptive content.
Read more: Mental health problems are a growing problem for European adolescents: WHO
‘Help is possible’
There is no single cause for suicide. For those struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, the message from the experts is clear: You are not alone.
“It is important to offer contact and a relationship with the affected person and maintain this contact,” said Barbara Schneider, who is also the chief physician of the department of dependency-related diseases at the LVR clinic in Cologne. “Also, if you find that it is not enough, or if you consider it insufficient, ask for more help.”
Even in times of physical distancing, it’s important to talk to people who may be struggling and ask them directly about it.
“What people, in general, should absolutely know is that help is possible,” he added.
If you are experiencing serious emotional stress or suicidal thoughts, do not hesitate to seek professional help. You can find information on where to find such help, no matter where you live in the world, on this website: https://www.befrienders.org/
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