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[av_heading heading=’How much do we really know about mental health?’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY JEMIMA ARANAS
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ERNEST Hemingway. Pulitzer Prize awardee known for his great literary works. Shot himself in the forehead.
Yolanda “Dalida” Gigliotti. Miss Egypt 1954; Successful gold and diamond record singer. Overdosed on barbiturates.
Robin Williams. Oscar-winning actor and comedian. Hung himself after suffering from manic depression throughout his life that stemmed from bipolar disorder.
Kurt Cobain. Band vocalist of “Nirvana.” Shot himself after “battling internal demons.”
Alexander McQueen. British fashion designer. Committed suicide during New York fashion week after his mother’s funeral.
Gia Allemand. Model and actress. Declared “brain dead” in the hospital after her attempted suicide by hanging.
Chris Cornell. Lead vocalist of “Soundgarden” and “Audioslave.” Committed suicide due to drug addiction and anxiety.
Peter Smedley. Millionaire hotelier and businessman. Suffered from motor neuron disease and ended his life by his own volition, at an assisted dying organization.
Elizabeth Hartman. Actress and singer. Jumped out a fifth story window and reportedly died exactly five years to the day after she left the movie business.
Chester Bennington. Band vocalist of “Linkin Park.” Hung himself due to alcohol addiction and depression.
The World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”
According to Beyond Blue (an organization for depression and anxiety victims) however, “mental health” is often used as a substitute for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, addiction, schizophrenia, and the like.
While the link between mental disorders and suicide has been well established in high-income countries, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life stresses, such as financial problems, relationship break-ups, chronic illnesses, and others.
The World Health Organization claims that experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse, or loss and a sense of isolation are strongly associated with suicidal behavior. Suicide rates are also high amongst vulnerable groups who experience discrimination, such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) persons; and prisoners. By far the strongest risk factor for suicide is a previous suicide attempt.
Suicide is a complex issue and therefore suicide prevention efforts require coordination and collaboration among multiple sectors of society, including the health sector and other sectors such as education, labor, agriculture, business, justice, law, defense, politics, and the media. These efforts must be comprehensive and integrated as no single approach alone can make an impact on an issue as complex as suicide. (WHO)
But more than these, awareness should necessarily start in the level of family members and friends. It doesn’t cost a cent to be a little more attentive with what someone, especially if that “one” is special to you, might be going through. We all have battles, and the least we can do is to have a good level of sensitivity.
Just like what American vocalist of “Black Veil Brides” Ashley Purdy said: “Suicide is not cowardly. I’ll tell you what is cowardly – treating people so badly that they want to end their lives.”/PN
The Department of Health (DOH) together with the Natasha Goulborn Foundation officially opens the ‘Hopeline’ Project – a phone-based counseling service available 24/7 to any individual who suffer from emotional crisis and depression. HOPELINE Hotlines may be reached 24/7 at these numbers:(02) 804-HOPE (4673); 0917 558 HOPE (4673) and 2919 (toll-free number for all GLOBE and TM subscribers).
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