Suicide prevention needs to be taken seriously

Last week, an angry older gentleman had left a message on my phone at the Prairie Post office. He was a reader from Lethbridge who was upset something wasn’t the way he wanted it in the paper. Instead of being constructive or just even just sounding angry, there was a definite sneer in his voice as he went out of his way to threaten and be hurtful.

It is an example of the type of emotion prevalent in the judgmental world we live in.

When we feel a loss of control, we lash out and we tend to lash out on people who are vulnerable in whatever capacity, either because they are a public figure or because they are weak physically, mentally etc.

There are a lot of raw emotions when it comes to provincial and national issues these days. It seems with the pandemic and subsequent masking and now yay or nay vaccination fall-out — anxiety, anger, paranoia and fear have become part of society’s collective psyche.

If one doesn’t think this is a problem, think again.

From a sociological point of view, having mobs taking specific sides type of mentality cannot be healthy. It is very cut and dried, no in between when it comes to the reaction and treatment to the pandemic… either you are getting vaccinated and generally wearing masks publicly or you are not. The line is simple, the reasoning for either is not and what has happened is an us against them. Forget the economic ramifications as that is clear with business lives either on hold, stop and start with business or jobs being eliminated, all of this is very stressful financially.

This adds to one’s burden as both the Alberta and Saskatchewan government’s actions are constantly reactionary and often contradictory with seemingly no semblance of a plan or logic, no matter your opinion on the subject.

This has caused people to lash out, very angrily, even as to seemingly illogically denounce and protest physicians, nurses and health officials in demonstrations in front of hospitals. There are pro and anti mask rallies, rocks and eggs are being thrown at politicians campaigning during the federal election and signs are being destroyed in many communities for this campaigning federally or civically in Alberta.

With restrictions and rules, even you don’t go out in public, with social media, people are equally as vicious.

With all of that, it makes one want to isolate.

And that, is dangerous.

It was World Suicide Prevention Day Sept. 10.

According to the World Health Organization more than 700,000 take their own life in the world each year, that’s every 40 seconds, every day, every week, every month.

In Canada and specifically Alberta and Saskatchewan, the numbers are not good as far as rate go although the suicide numbers are particularly bad in provinces where isolation is an issue, especially in the north, particularly Nunavut.

See: https://www.suicideinfo.ca/resource-type/statistics/

According to Alberta Health Services, “on average, 45% of emergency department visits for suicide attempts or self-harm are adults, ages 20-39; three out of four suicide deaths are male; 45% of these are middle-aged men, ages 40-64; 63-67% of LGTBQ2S+ youth, ages 14- 25, report thoughts about suicide and suicide is five to six times higher for Indigenous youth than non-Indigenous youth in Alberta.

The Depression Project organization says that in Canada, 40 per cent of men don’t want to discuss their struggles and and 25 per cent of men live with a mental illness.

It seems like with all of the visual public outrage being displayed, the majority of the people who don’t participate are being driven into isolation for fear of public humiliation, embarrassment or fear of loss of employment or relationships.

With isolation and all of the negativity, this is where the toxicity in our individual minds wreaks havoc.

Going against the long standing practice of sweeping it under the rug or not believing in mental health as a critical part of life, there is more discussion on all aspects of mental health. The days of holding onto the idea of not talking about it are over.

The fact we are acknowledging suicide is an issue is important. Remember, there is help.

For more information visit www.ahs.ca/ preventing suicide or if you want to talk to someone, please call: Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1 (877) 303-2642; Alberta Addictions Helpline 1 (866) 332-2322; Distress Line of South Western Alberta: (403) 3277905; Kids Help Phone 1 (800) 668-6868; Rural Distress Line: 1 (800) 232-7288; or if suicide is a strong possibility, please call 911.

Ryan Dahlman is the managing editor of Prairie Post West and Prairie Post East