World Suicide Prevention Day

  •   Wed, Sep 10 2025
  •   By Dr Supriya Hegde Aroor

September 10, 2025

Every year September 10 is observed as World Suicide Prevention Day. This year’s theme is “Changing the narrative on Suicide”

As a mental health professional I am often asked this question- can suicide actually be prevented? My answer is YES of of course -it can be!!

It’s common knowledge that persons with untreated psychiatric illness such as depression and substance dependence are more likely to kill themselves. People who are lonely, with serious illness such as terminal cancer, those with failed relationships, marital conflict and insurmountable financial stress may also try to take their own life.

When I interact with my patients I routinely ask them in the course of the interview whether they get thoughts of self-harm. Many of them say yes, they do. But most have not attempted yet. Then I ask what prevents them from acting on their worst thoughts. Different reasons are revealed.

The ones who have struggled with these thoughts for long, have learnt that suicidal thoughts come in waves and do not last forever. They have to somehow tide over the difficult time, let it pass, not be alone, remove means of harm, talk to somebody or get out and go to a public place. The risk of harm reduces.

Some patients say that they are afraid of the pain the suicide attempt would cause before they die and hence they can’t muster the courage to take their own life.

Some students remember their parents grandparents face and then imagine how they would feel if they committed suicide and stay away from trying. Some even think of their pets, lover and close friend and don’t act. Some people think of the shame that it would bring to their name and that of their family and do not take their own life.

Many have strong religious beliefs and believe that committing suicide is the biggest sin and shun away those thoughts. Their religious belief becomes a strong protective influence against self-harm.

One person I was interviewing told me that if firearms were freely available in India he would have shot himself. Hanging and drowning are not sure -shot options for him.
He was not willing to be asked by random people after a failed attempt as to why he wanted to kill himself!

A lady whose friend talked to her for over an hour when she called her desperate to end her life, believes what saved her that day was her friend’s patient listening skills.

People have told me that a kind voice of the professional answering suicide helpline, who was empathetic, helped them to tide over suicidal thoughts on a particularly challenging day.

Over two decades of my practice as a mental health professional I have had numerous such occasions when patients have thanked me for saving their lives. When I was younger I actually believed that I did. But with growing age and wisdom I realise its multiple factors which prevent suicide. My role though significant is not the only one that prevents suicide.

First and foremost - The index person who has thoughts of committing suicide must be willing to seek help. If he seeks help, yes he can be saved. Untreated depression causes suicidal thoughts to come - it’s a symptom just as fever is a symptom in malaria. You treat depression and those thoughts go away or become negligible.

Second- The person in question should have at least one person who is willing to get him for help to a Psychiatrist. Many a times the person is so severely depressed that he may not be able to make a rational decision to seek help. If he has a non-judgmental and non-stigmatising friend or family who can take him to a doctor - yes this life can also be saved.

I have had team leaders from IT companies call me and report about the mental well-being of a subordinate and managers telling that for an employee with suicidal ideation they have helped reducing his burden at work temporarily. If such a supportive team exists at work, yes this life can also be salvaged.

Wardens from hostels have accompanied their suicidal wards, teacher and mentors have hand held their mentees during difficult times, roommates have kept medications in their custody to prevent over dosage, and sometimes neighbours have sat nights next to theirs to prevent a suicide.

Parents have sacrificed everything to stay with their suicidal child and children have given up on work commitments abroad to monitor an aged suicidal parent. Siblings have taken turns guarding the one against self-inflicted death.

It’s collective effort that prevents a suicide. Sometimes it’s only divine providence. There is a saying in Hindi 'Jako rakhe Saiyan, maar sake na koi' (He whom God protects, no one can kill). Sometimes though not scientific but I think it’s just God. Your time has not come yet. You will live. As simple as that.

On this World Suicide Prevention Day let’s pledge to be sensitive about the mental health needs of self and others. If you find a friend or family member, work colleague or classmate who appears different, dull and down, just enquire gently about how they are feeling. Don’t get worried if they open their heart to you. Just listen. Tell them you are there for them and you care. Sometimes a few kind words can change someone’s mind and instil in them a hope to live.

At the same time, let’s also normalise seeking help for mental illness -one of the most obvious preventable cause of suicide.

The narrative on suicide must change. It’s preventable and yes you can help too!!!

 

 

 
By Dr Supriya Hegde Aroor
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