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Understanding Suicide

People who contemplate suicide don’t always verbalize their intention. And not always leave a note. More often than not, a lot of people who commit suicide have a history of mental illness for a long time throughout their lives (National Library of Medicine, 2025). Unfortunately, they get to an unbearable state of mind, terribly overwhelmed that they can’t cope with life anymore, which drives them to make a permanent decision to a temporary mental crisis. On the other hand, when people verbalize their intention, this is their way of crying for help (CDC, 2025). They don’t want to die; they just want to stop the mental pain. It’s vital that when someone expresses these feelings, they are taken seriously and encouraged to find support. Often, people want to verbally express their feelings; once they do, they feel better. Furthermore, how people view life will influence how they think, perceive, and interact with the community around them. Developing a healthy view of society is imperative for the mind’s well-being, and if this is not the case, a person can develop socio-cognitive impairment (Loving Outreach, 2025).

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A socio-cognitive impairment occurs when someone has a distorted view of society. This distortion can cause confusion and distress in relationships and difficulties interacting with others. The individual may feel isolated, lonely, angry, grief-stricken, depressed, or in despair. Social anxiety, social phobia, and feeling overwhelmed are also common. These negative views can worsen and eventually lead to mental illness or a mental breakdown. People's perceptions of others are already negatively affected by this viewpoint (National Library of Medicine, 2025). To make things worse, some studies suggest that genetic factors, like chromosome variations, may contribute to an individual's suicide risk, highlighting possible hereditary influences. Further, Biological factors also contribute to increased risks of suicide (CDC, 2025). Likewise, environmental factors matter. Examples include pollution, lack of health care, poverty, homelessness, urban stress, challenging family dynamics, difficult childhoods, limited education, and cultural background. These social determinants can affect a person’s well-being. When needs go unmet, mental concerns increase (National Library of Medicine, 2025).

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Rates of mental illness and suicide are rising. In 2018, suicide was among the leading causes of death in Canada. To address this crisis, we must prepare individuals with awareness, education, and support (National Library of Medicine, 2025). Organizations in Niagara, such as the Niagara Coalition Suicide Prevention, the Canadian Mental Health Association, the crisis line Niagara, Living Works, and others, offer key services and training. It is vital to recognize the signs and symptoms of hopelessness and understand when a person may be at risk for suicide (Distress Centre Niagara, 2025).

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To help prevent suicide, follow these steps in order:

1. Observe the person. For example, note if the person appears unkempt, avoids eye contact, or holds their head down.

2. Listen actively without judgment. Carefully pay attention to words that indicate feelings or problems in the person's life (Living Works, 2025).

4. Pay attention to statements such as "I don't see a way out" or "I want to end it," as these may indicate suicide risk (Living Works, 2025).

3. If you suspect suicide, ask direct questions. For example: "Are you thinking of killing yourself? Are you thinking of ending your life?" Then ask, "Do you have a plan?"

5. Ask what is happening and encourage the person to talk about it (Living Works, 2025).

6. State the seriousness of suicide risk and offer help and support. For example, share the 988, suicide crisis phone support number, or ask the person if you can call for them.

7. Remain with the person until support arrives or until the phone call with the crisis line is complete. Help ensure they follow up with a mental health professional (Living Works, 2025). It's absolutely paramount to equip the communities with valuable life-saving skills to support society.

 

Although suicide rates may vary among different communities, their impact is deeply felt across all backgrounds, cultures, and social groups. Suicide has a broad reach. Being informed and prepared enables communities to respond compassionately and effectively. Recovery is possible, even after a crisis. Continuous support is essential to strengthen our communities (Niagara Suicide Prevention Coalition, 2025).

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References

  1. Canadian Mental Health Association, 2025. Facts on Mental Health and Mental Illnesses in Canada. https://cmha.ca/find-info/mental-health/general-info/fast-facts/

  2. CDC, 2025. Suicide Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/prevention/index.html

  3. Center for suicide Prevention, 2025. Safe Talk, suicide alertness for everyone. https://www.suicideinfo.ca/workshop/safe-talk/

  4. Distress Centre Niagara, 2025. https://www.distresscentreniagara.com/

  5. National Library of Medicine, 2025. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8034317/

  6. National Library of Medicine, 2025. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Biological Factors Underpinning Suicidal Behaviour: An Update https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8034317/

  7. Nevid, J. S., Rathus, S. A., & Greene, B. S. (2017). Abnormal psychology in a changing world (10th ed.). Pearson.

  8. Niagara Suicide Prevention Coalition, 2025. https://niagarasuicidepreventioncoalition.ca/be-safe/

  9. Living Works, 2025. https://livingworks.net/training/livingworks-faith/

  10. Loving Outreach, 2025. https://lovingoutreach.org/

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