ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂਜੀਕਾਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ॥ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂਜੀਕੀਫ਼ਤਹਿ ॥
On the 10th September of every year, the World Suicide Prevention Day is observed. This annual, international campaign brings together communities, researchers, individuals with lived experiences, and those bereaved by suicide. It aims to raise awareness, reduce suicide rates and share effective ways to take action both as individuals and members of the community.
Globally, approximately 800,000 people take their own lives each year. In 2019 alone 5,691 suicides were registered in England and Wales, 75% of which were males. These trends were consistent with the statistics collected in 2018 making suicide one of the leading causes of death, particularly in young people.
This year’s theme is ‘Working Together to Prevent Suicide’, which emphasises the role of teamwork in order to achieve the aims stated above. Collective, inter-organizational collaborative work is more likely to succeed in doing this through the sharing and development of knowledge, resources and research.
As members of the community, we can all participate in this by educating ourselves on how we can support those around us. There is no single solution or response, so the literature on this is vast. This is something that as a Society, we hope to promote by introducing regular Welfare Updates this academic year which will include a section on recent research findings within psychology.
You could also consider attending an online conference or watching a short video providing advice on how to best support someone struggling with their mental health. The International Association of Suicide Prevention provides further information and details about other ways in which we can all get involved such as the ‘Cycle around the Globe’ challenge which is a fundraising campaign.
As always, it is helpful to reflect on our values by using examples from Sikhi. Today’s theme focuses on teamwork, so we would like to use a lesson from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji about the power of unity and ‘Sangat’ (congregation), a term that Guru Nanak Dev Ji used extensively. The same way in which knowledge of the divine contemplation is only effectively reached within the body of the Sangat, so is satisfaction and true happiness. In order to remove negativity and negative thoughts from your life, you need to first distance yourself from negative people and instead surround yourself with positive people with positive outlooks. This message is illustrated by the following shabad:
ਲਖ ਸਿਆਣਪ ਜੇ ਕਰੀ ਲਖ ਸਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਮਿਲਾਪੁ ॥
ਬਿਨੁ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਾਧ ਨ ਧ੍ਰਾਪੀਆ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਦੂਖ ਸੰਤਾਪੁ ॥
Lakh Siaanap Jae Karee Lakh Sio Preeth Milaap ॥
Bin Sangat Saadh N Dhraapeeaa Bin Naavai Dhookh Santhaap ॥
Even if someone has hundreds of thousands of clever mental tricks, and the love and company of hundreds of thousands of people.
Still, without the Saadh Sangat, the company of the Holy, he will not feel satisfied. Without the Name, all suffer in sorrow.
〜 SGGSJ | Ang 20 | Guru Nanak Dev Ji
We hope that you can get involved with this awareness day in some way or other, no matter how big or small that is. If you have any questions or need someone to speak to, please feel free to get in touch with me here.
Yours faithfully,
Simrit Kaur
CU Sikh Soc Welfare Officer