Empowered Talks

with Roma Miclat

Every Second Counts: A Conversation on Suicide Awareness, Prevention and and Creating Safe Spaces for Mental Health

IN THIS EPISODE OF EMPOWERED TALKS

September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. Together with Mental Health PH, we explored the sensitive yet crucial issue of suicide in the Philippines. This episode will provide valuable insights in understanding the warning signs, handling the hard conversations and the importance of creating supportive communities for everyone.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

ABOUT THE GUESTS:

MENTAL HEALTH PH is a non-profit organization that champions and builds mentally healthy communities through creating safe spaces and providing access to mental health tools and services.

Since 2016, Mental Health Ph has been investing into increasing awareness about people’s struggles with mental ill-health, empowering members to support themselves and others, and collaborating with various sectors towards sustainable solutions.

Follow Mental Health PH:

NIKKI LIZARONDO is the Deputy Director for Communication of Mental Health Ph. She is a proud Mental Health advocate and Her life’s mission is to share her mental health story in the hopes that it inspires other people to speak up and be a voice of hope to those who are facing this invisible battle every day. She dreams of having a world where mental health is so normalized that people will not be scared to ask for help.

ALVIN JOSEPH MAPOY is the Deputy Director for Learning and Development Committee of Mental Health Ph. He is a Registered Psychologist and a Registered Psychometrician. AJ has seven (7) years of combined volunteer and professional experience specialising in education and mental health advocacies. He is an instructor at Department of Psychology, University of Santo Tomas.

AMANDA G. CRUZ is the Chief Communications Officer of #MentalHealthPH. She is an advocate of Mental Health PH. She attained her Master’s Degree in Marketing Communications in De La Salle University. Amanda also has 6 years of experience in Public Relations and Marketing Communications for PR agency and for various local and international brands.

DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • What are the top 3 important things that we should understand about suicide?
  • Who are at most risk?
  • What are the (major) factors leading to suicide?
  • The link between suicide and mental disorders.
  • Identifying warning signs when someone is thinking of suicide
  • Handling the conversation about suicide by using the proper language.
  • Ways on how you can proactively help in preventing suicide.

Suicide is rarely caused by
one single factor.

According to a Vital Signs report, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) researchers found that 54 percent people who died by suicide were not known to have a mental illness diagnosis. While many cases of suicide are attributed to mental illness diagnoses, other issues like relationship and financial stress and substance abuse contribute to rising rates of suicide.

Asking/talking about suicide will not increase suicidal tendencies.

While the common assumption has been that inquiring about suicidality can increase suicidal tendencies, the data says that asking about suicide does not increase potential suicidality.

[In reality,] asking about thoughts of death or dying can open the door to a conversation that could save a lot of lives.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24998511/

How Can You Help?

Let’s shatter the silence surrounding suicide and create a world where no one feels alone in their struggle. Sharing this helpful ways on how you can help someone thru actions that can show compassion, and save lives.

MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS HOTLINE (PH)

If you know someone who needs help with their mental health, you can contact the National Center for Mental Health 24/7 Crisis HOTLINE:

  • [02] – 1553 – Luzon-wide landline toll-free
  • 09663514518 / 09178998727 Globe/TM subscribers
  • 09086392672 Smart / Sun / TNT Subscribers

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YOUTUBE:

Sources:

Empowered Talks is a podcast show that empowers people to find their voice through self-discovery.

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