Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Dozens bash council for ‘insensitive’ Facebook post
IAN BUNTING
North Lanarkshire Council came under fire from irate mental health campaigners and members of the public after claiming that suicidal thoughts are “not an illness”.
Dozens hit out at the local authority for the “disgusting” message posted on Facebook last Tuesday night, January 7.
The update claimed the “strength and personality” of those struggling with mental health issues would help them “get through it”.
It has since been taken down after being widely condemned by the online community.
The message read: “Suicidal thoughts are not an illness.
“Everyone has an individual story and worries of their own. It’s personal to you, your background, your experiences and your history.
“Your strength and personality will get you through it. By telling and sharing your story you can help yourself and others.
“Never give up on yourself or those you care about.”
Airdrie North Councillor Sophia Coyle, who organised a charity night for suicide prevention charity Chris’s House late last year which raised £1250, told the Advertiser: “The line in this Facebook message about suicide not being an illness was incredibly ill thought out and puts people down right away.
“It is hinting that people with suicidal tendencies are just doing it for attention and could make them feel very uncomfortable in relation to coming forward to speak up.
“People need to think before posting messages like this as suicide is a major issue that destroys lives.
“Suicide is an illness and saying to people to ‘get through it’ is sending out an entirely wrong message.
“It’s good to talk about your mental health issues but this isn’t enough – and many find it hard to talk and share their concerns.
“There are thousands of people suffering from mental health issues crying out for support and much more has to be done.”
Airdrie actor and musician Scott Stewart has worked on several mental healththemed projects over the past couple of years, including a documentary entitled Man Up where he “got hyper in public places while extremely high-energy dance music played” in a bid to highlight the stigma surrounding men who suffer from mental health and how others react to the condition.
Scott, 26, didn’t hold back with his criticism of the council’s Facebook message, saying: “It was very insensitive for them to post it and it was likely posted by someone who has never experienced depression.
“It is no wonder people going through mental health issues feel isolated when they look for help and it’s simply not there.
“I worked on many projects relating to mental health and it’s an issue close to my heart, having lost several friends to suicide; the strongest people with the strongest will in the world can end up taking their own lives as even they can be knocked down.
“The council need to focus more on understanding and helping the problem.
“There is a famous quote I always use, ‘life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain’.
“By acting and doing videos online, I’ve worked up a big following and have often received messages from people who are in a position where they are having suicidal thoughts and I always make time for them as they are brave enough to open up about it.”
Jordan Linden, depute leader of the North Lanarkshire SNP group, added: “I was concerned when individuals raised the comments posted on our council’s official social media channel regarding mental health and suicide prevention.
“Having reviewed the content myself, I shared these concerns and, in particular, the potential insensitivity of the opening line of the post.
“In public life, we all have a responsibility to talk openly and sensitively about mental wellbeing. The SNP group are committed to this and I have been proud to do this during my own time as an elected member.
“I know that North Lanarkshire Council, and indeed all in our communities, are committed to supporting those struggling with their mental health and that Suicide Prevention North Lanarkshire is a key partner in that work.
“I hope that as we move forward, continuing to engage and talk about this vitally important issue, that all relevant council services will work closely with Suicide Prevention North Lanarkshire to inform their approach, to raise awareness of the support in place for those with suicidal thoughts, improve mental and physical health among key groups and build community capacity to help reduce the stigma and taboo associated with talking about mental health and suicide.”
In the immediate aftermath of the message’s publication, furious social media users called for the post to be deleted, including people living with mental health problems and families who have experienced suicide.
One mother told how her daughter had recently taken her own life, with another person who “struggles every day” saying the post was “not what she needed to read”.
A spokesperson for Suicide Prevention North Lanarkshire said: “We apologise if our social media post about suicide prevention caused upset.
“This was certainly not the intention and we fully understand the sensitivities around this subject and that many people may experience mental ill health and suicidal thoughts at any point in their life.
“We are committed to offering support and advice through our campaign to anyone concerned about suicide or worried about someone with suicidal thoughts.”
The Samaritans is available 24/7 if you need to talk; they can be contacted, for free, by calling 116 123, emailing jo@samaritans. org or heading to the website to find your nearest branch.