Overcoming stigma: A closer understanding of suicide addresses formerly taboo issues

By Ilhan Raage

Editor-in-Chief

Although one person dies by suicide every 16.2 minutes on average, the topic of suicide is still taboo.

Despite increased accessibility to help and the connection of modern times, suicide is not given the attention that it deserves. Indefinitely, it is important to educate people on overcoming the stigma of suicide.

Someone who struggles with mental illness should never be afraid to speak up and ask for help. Losing a life should never occur due to peopleís inability to allow others to communicate their problems.

From the Overcoming Stigma workshop, the presenters emphasized that, ìsuicide goes against innate human behavior and so if someone is talking about suicide, you should take them seriously.î

Some might wonder why people still kill themselves if this is true?

The presenters cleared this up by explaining that studies show that people who attempt suicide donít want to die; they just want to end their suffering.

There are many factors that might encourage a person to kill themselves. Some of these factors are mental illness, bullying and the accessibility to guns. In Minnesota alone, bullying increased 40.6 percent within the last ten years and over 50 percent of gun deaths are attributed to suicide.

Presenters brought up that some advancements in addressing the issue of suicide have occurred. One of these advancements is that a three-digit number that people can call to receive help through the national suicide help line. The House passed the bill during the summer of 2018 and the dial code is currently in the process of being made.

The piece of advice that the presenters of the workshop ended their presentation with was for everyone to find ways to communicate with their loved ones and to be aware that there is always hope. To get help, some resources on campus are counselors and the Health Services. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255.