Worldsuicidepreventionday We Can't Afford To Avoid The Conversation Anymore

By Angie Vorster

This year, the World Health Organisations theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is Changing the narrative on suicide, encouraging us all to include destigmatising discussions around mental health in our daily interactions

The importance of this message is underscored by the statistics suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 15-29 in our country in 2019, South Africa reported 13,774 deaths by suicide. What is particularly jarring is that 10,861 of these deaths were men, a staggering 79 percent. Taking these statistics into account, perhaps we should focus on how to talk to our youth in particular our male youths about mental illness.

In providing psychotherapy to many people from this demographic, my observations are that we tend to speak less to male teenagers and young adults than we do to their female counterparts. We parents, siblings, friends tend to assume that these deep-voiced, confident-looking young men are fine. That they will ask if they need help, even though many of my male patients describe feeling incredibly lonely. Longing for their parents and siblings to touch base with them more frequently and to ask them about how they are doing psychologically.

It is surprising how little other people need from us. Ninety percent of the people who come to me for psychotherapy report that they only need a WhatsApp, phone call, or quick check-in from their loved ones a few times a week to improve their sense of belonging and connection.