Suicide Warning Signs

The death of DJ Alex Murimi through suicide threw the country into shock. He was a celebrity who was at the prime of his career and life. He was the envy of many. I wish we could say that it was bad luck but in the past week alone, Kevin Gesire, a state counsel to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutors in Kitui and Joshua Bosire took their lives too. These are the ones we know, yet there may be many more whose names may never come to the fore. Even more overwhelming are those who tried failed at suicide

Data from World Health Organization show that there is 1 death through suicide in every 40 seconds translating to 3,000 deaths a day!  And for every successful suicide there are many more failed attempts (about 20 failed attempts).

Suicide is a result of feeling so overwhelmed by your problems that you see no way out except to just it to end. Care is available and mental disorders can be treated. There should be no stigma to seeking mental health care.

  Signs to look for

• Severe sadness and mood swings

• Feelings of hopelessness or having no reason to live.

• Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain (most people who commit suicide do not want to die; they just want to end the pain inside of them).

• Difficulty concentrating on anything

• Feelings of being a burden to others

• Social isolation, wanting to be alone and avoiding friends and family

• Loss of interest in activities that were once pleasurable

• Difficulty sleeping or too much sleep

• Unresolved trauma or life crisis

• Entertaining the thoughts that this world will be a better place without you

If you are going through these challenges, you are not alone. Speak up and help is available.

If you see your friend struggling with these symptoms reach out.

Asking someone ”are you ok?” can make a difference between life and death!

SUICIDE IS PREVENTABLE