Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: South Asians + Suicide
*Trigger Warning: Sensitive Topics are discussed in this blog post*
What is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month?
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is a month dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of suicidal thoughts and ideation, and destigmatizing the way we approach mental health as a whole. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), “Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10–14 and the 3rd leading cause of death among people aged 15-24 in the U.S.” Suicide Prevention is a much needed cause right now, and this month is the perfect time to start your advocacy.
The stigma around mental health is a primary factor in the way we approach suicide. Men’s mental health is an area of particular concern as 79% of all people who die by suicide are male. Men’s mental health is highly stigmatized due to the notion that men having emotions makes them weak and isn’t masculine enough. This issue coupled with the inequitable distribution of mental health resources for BIPOC and low income neighborhoods has created a disastrous crisis situation for mental health across the world.
A little bit of history
Mental health has a long history across the world. At the start of the 19th century, the verbiage, ‘mental asylum,’ was still quite common. From exorcisms to invasive surgeries, actual research surrounding mental health was seldom done, or based on religious or spiritual philosophies.
Though many who were mentally ill were treated gruesomely, there were those who believed that those with mental illness could heal. The mental hygiene movement was created by what is now known as Mental Health America in 1909. From there, the general public was taught how to practice self care and take care of their mental health. There were many following ups and downs, but Mental Health America was a constant in promoting mental health awareness and trying to break down the stigma around it.
Research has grown surrounding mental health, and we’ve made many advances regarding mental illnesses. However, much is left to be discovered surrounding the complex issue of suicide. From 2000-2018, suicide rates increased by 30%. The issue is only getting worse right now, and it’s important that we start taking steps to solving it.
South Asians in the US & Suicide Prevention
As we analyze suicide as a a whole, we also wanted to take a look at how South Asians specifically fare with suicide in the US. In the South Asian community, even in the US, there is still a high stigma associated with suicide and mental health. Within the Asian American/Pacific Islander population, research finds that 32.5% of total deaths are due to suicide. In addition to this, a study found that suicide rates among South Asian women are higher than their male counterparts. South Asians in the US are struggling, and this isn’t anything new.
Suicide in India
Suicide in India is a rarely touched upon subject due to its highly stigmatized nature. Each year, more than 100,000 people commit suicide in India. It’s also set to become the leading cause of death in Indian women. Due to the social stigma surrounding this topic, there is limited research on the real numbers of suicide. However, in a study regarding how people in India view mental health, it was found that 68% of people believe that people living with mental illnesses should not be given any responsibilities, and 60% of people believe that one of the main causes of mental illness is the lack of self discipline and willpower.
Mental Health Pre-Pandemic versus. Post-Pandemic
The pandemic greatly transformed the way mental health is approached by our society. Primarily, we have seen a large increase in the number of people experiencing depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns. According to Mental Health America, “In 2021, over 5.4 million (N=5,441,125) people took a mental health screen, representing a nearly 500% increase over the number of people who completed a screening in 2019 and a 103% increase over 2020.” The positive to this is that more people are screening for mental health, meaning more people are aware of the issue and want to attempt to get better. However, there is a huge increase in the number of people actually experiencing mental health conditions simultaneously.
The pandemic brought up new feelings of panic in many, causing something known as COVID Anxiety. In Gen Zers, social anxiety was a large development in many. People became accustomed to being able to hide behind a Zoom screen, and as soon as the pandemic started to lift up, it became difficult to interact with others. In fact, the global prevalence of anxiety increased by 25% after the pandemic.
What is being done to help?
Preventing suicide has been something many advocates and activists have been working towards. The complexity of the issue has made it difficult to fully prevent, but there is much work being done to help.
Government policies are being developed to address the increased mental health concerns through providing more mental health care resources. The CDC offers several strategies to preventing suicide including the following.
Create protective environments
Promote connectedness
Teaching coping and problem-solving skills
Identify and support people at risk
Strengthen access and delivery of suicide care
Strengthen economic supports
Leaders in the industry are also working to research and develop new mental health programs. Meanwhile, youth leaders are creating nonprofit organizations and various initiatives to promote mental health awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health.
How can you honor it?
There are many ways that you can also help prevent suicide. It doesn’t have to be something big you do just this month. Year-round, be kind to those around you and lend a helping hand. Make sure to pay attention to yourself as well and practice self care and mental wellness strategies. Honoring Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is about the small steps we can take together to collectively heal as a society and create an environment where mental health is a priority.
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