National Suicide Prevention Week and Superman

This past week has been National Suicide Prevention week. The aim of this week is to raise awareness about issues related to suicide. I think that everyone can agree suicide is a tragedy that in many cases can be avoided and prevented from happening. Despite being one of the leading causes of death in the world, talking about suicide is infrequent. Part of this is due to suicide being a multi-faceted complex issue spanning across many areas and crucially people come at it with their own viewpoints and opinions.

Firstly lets get some facts out there:

1. Around 1 million people die from suicide across the world, more than in murder and war combined
2. It is the second leading cause of death in adolescents aged 15-19 years old in the world.
3. In the U.K., suicide is around 3 times more likely to occur in males than females. 
4. In the U.K., suicide has significantly increased in both males (from 2002) and females (from 2007)
5. People with mental health problems are more likely to attempt suicide.

These facts on rates of death illustrate the severity of suicide particularly in relation to other things that get much wider media attention such as disease, war and murder. There are multiple reasons for this. It may be that increased awareness of suicide may act as mediating factor which in turn leads to more suicides via a copycat effect. Furthermore over-dramatisation of reporting by the media is more likely to facilitate this effect. For example explicily stating suicide in the title or paying attention to particular incidences of the story such a how the suicide was conducted or whether there was a note. Responsible media reporting is the key here, drawing attentions to the positive aspects of the person can be beneficial. Unfortunately this is not usually the case. One thing that some major news reports (at least in the U.K.) do get right is using the report to highlight possible interventions or suicide help groups (e.g. Good Samaritans). This does help to raise awareness of some possible preventative organizations, which in turn could help someone in the future.

Clearly it is finely balanced how media can potentially be both harmful and beneficial to intervening with suicide. The rise of social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter) could be used to help to potentially prevent suicides or raise awareness of possible interventions.. In some cases certain, deaths may allow for particular social or economic practices to be challenged. Classically this has been proved by Emile Durkheim's pioneering work on the stability of suicide rates over time between different countries. From this it can be inferred that suicide is not just a product of an individual choice but that the society and environment of the individual are also important. Recent work has expanded on this to show that suicide rates in Europe fluctuate and are related to the socio-cultural changes that occur within that country (See Here). This further suggests the role of social environment and social context in affecting suicide rates, in addition to the presence of more personal factors.

There is still a heavy stigma associated with suicide (and wider with mental health issues). Successfully addressing this stigma is crucial in the prevention of future suicides. Stigma can result from religious affiliation, mis-information or lack of awareness. The stigma can result in a delay of getting help from health care professionals until it is too late and can be particularly a problem with the elderley (see here). In particular the negative attitudes towards individuals and families who are suicidal are particularly damaging. Examples of stigmatisation include exclusion, criminalisation as well as demeaning language in both discussion and mainstream media reporting. The removal of this stigma to both the invidual and family and friends associated with it may enable individuals to feel more comfortable to seek help. This will allow greater focus on acknowledging causes and beneficial ways to give help.

According to the Good Samaritans and International Assocaition for Suicide Prevention previous and current education about suicide have not been successful with their still being a large amount of stigma surrounding suicide. Perhaps the use of social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Youtube). One other method is to have suicide discussed in other forms of media, incorportion into stories with that allow a forum for discussion to begin. A good example of this in All Star Superman. In this story Superman is dying and has only 24 hours left to live. In his last day he still is a hero and despite being an alien from another planet shows great humility and humanity.

These 7 panels display how despite having Superman having only a short time to live. He still takes the time out to stop and save the girl who is about to jump off off the roof. Despite hearing multiple situations where he is is needed, Superman still hears that a therapist is unable to meet with his client. The scene is very powerful and represents two things. Firstly it shows how the perception of the world of someone who is contemplating suicide may not accurately represent the world. Secondly, the impact that our actions have on others (in this case positive but it can be negative) can be just as powerful and influential as how other people perceive them. Superman saves this one solitary girl despite not having long left to live and being busy with other emergancies.

Taking time out to check that someone is OK is an act that everyone is capable of despite our busy lives.


Facts about Sucide taken from:

1. Samaritans Suicide Reports 2013 (Report)
2. International Assocaition for Suicide Prevention (IASP)

Superman belongs to DC comics. All Star Superman is written by Grant Morrison. Images are used for educational purposes.

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