World Suicide Prevention Day: 'We must be observant to patterns of behaviour'

John Perlman interviews therapist, Thabang Mashigo.

Listen below.

Suicide poses a significant public health crisis, claiming over 700,000 lives annually worldwide.

Each suicide has profound social, emotional, and economic repercussions, impacting both individuals and communities on a global scale.

For World Suicide Prevention Day 2024-2026, the theme is "Changing the Narrative on Suicide," with the call to action being "Start the Conversation."

This initiative seeks to emphasise the importance of diminishing stigma and fostering open dialogue as crucial steps in preventing suicide.

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Mashigo emphasises the crucial distinction between mental health and mental illness, terms that are often confused.

Mental health encompasses the range of our emotional states, whether positive or negative.

In contrast, mental illness pertains to a person’s long-term ability to function effectively or the struggle to do so.

She observes that our society has become complacent, adopting a business as usual mentality when confronting trauma and hardship.

This approach leads to issues being ignored rather than addressed, preventing the vital conversations and safe spaces that can make a profound difference in someone's life, she says.

"We are a society that struggles to be vulnerable."

- Thabang Mashigo, therapist

Mashigo says that recognising someone’s usual behavioural patterns is crucial, and any noticeable changes in these patterns should prompt intervention.

She explains that, in some cases, a person might not be ready to talk and may just need a change of environment to shift their perspective.

For those experiencing suicidal thoughts, Mashigo advises taking action to jolt your system – whether it's undertaking a significant project like painting your house or another form of drastic change.

At such moments, what is needed most is a spark of hope, she says.

"We need to be observant to patterns of behaviour."

- Thabang Mashigo, therapist

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