When we think of helping people who are suicidal, the first thought that comes to mind is almost always first-time suicide prevention. Many organizations and efforts are focused on reaching people who may be considering suicide – people with depression or other mental illnesses, or who have gone through traumatic life changes. But above all, we focus on reaching these people before they attempt to kill themselves. But what about after a failed attempt? In the TED video below, JD Schramm explains the importance of answering this question. According to Schramm, “Research shows that nineteen out of twenty people who attempt suicide will fail. But the people who fail are thirty-seven times more likely to succeed the second time.” As a society, we are still struggling to overcome our taboos and stigma around suicide. This has resulted in a lack of support for people who have lived through attempted suicide – a necessity if we want to assist suicide survivors and break the cycle of isolation. And the first step, as illustrated in the video below, is opening up to discuss our own experiences, and the experiences of others, in order to further understanding and move towards acceptance and the capacity to help.
This video may begin with a commercial which was not chosen by or for the benefit of DisAbility Rights Galaxy.