TRIGGER WARNING (TW): Suicide

TLDR

• World Suicide Prevention Day is held annually on September 10th to raise awareness and promote action on suicide prevention.
• Increasing awareness, strengthening communities, and supporting survivors and those affected are all important aspects of the day.
• Today is filled with difficult emotions for many of us. Some ways to cope can be through music (we recommend the band "Citizen Soldier", grounding techniques, and talking to others.
• We recognise that goSupermodel provides a safe space for our users and we want to cherish this. Our current rules on conversations on suicide are lacking and we are working on improving them. Conversations on experiences and seeking support are allowed, granted they follow the existing rules. Remember to always use relevant trigger warnings when needed.
• Additional information can be found in this topic. You can reach out and receive support from fellow users in the topic "Mental Health Check & Resource".
• When in crisis, reach out to a National Suicide Prevention Hotline for immediate help. Do not hesitate to reach out - you deserve help and you deserve to be here. You are and will always be enough.

History and Background

World Suicide Prevention Day, held annually on September 10th, is a crucial event dedicated to addressing one of the most pressing public health issues worldwide; suicide. With over 700,000 people dying by suicide each year according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the day serves as a critical reminder of the need for collective action to reduce these numbers and support those affected.

The observance of World Suicide Prevention Day was initiated in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), in collaboration with the WHO. The day was established to provide a global platform to focus attention on the issue of suicide and its prevention. It’s a day not just for remembrance and reflection but also for action, encouraging governments, organisations, and individuals to engage in activities that help prevent suicide.

Significance and Goals

The primary goals of World Suicide Prevention Day are to:

1. Increase Awareness: Raising global awareness about the scale of suicide and the role that individuals and communities can play in preventing it.
2. Promote Education: Educating people on how to recognise the warning signs of suicide and how to respond effectively.
3. Encourage Empathy: Reducing stigma around suicide and mental health issues, which often prevents people from seeking the help they need.
4. Strengthen Communities: Fostering community-based approaches to prevention, encouraging local actions that support those in need.
5. Support Survivors: Providing comfort and resources to those who have lost loved ones to suicide, and to those who have survived attempts.
   

Today, many of us will feel an array of deep emotions. Sadness, anxiety, or even anger might arise as we process and acknowledge the pain so many of us have and continue to endure. Still, within these heavy feelings, we can also feel hope, as we come together and reflect on the importance of mental health and support, and remind ourselves and others that life matters. If you are feeling overwhelmed today, know that others share your feelings and experience. More than raising awareness, today is about reinforcing that you are enough.

One way to feel solace is through music; songs can put into words the feelings we struggle to say aloud. An artist who manages to put words to the difficult emotions of fighting through internal struggle is the band “Citizen Soldier”. If you need something to listen to today, the song "Let It Burn" is a reminder that it’s okay to not be okay - but it is always okay to reach out for help. Beyond music, here are other techniques you can use to ground yourself when your emotions are high.

• 5-4-3-2-1 Technique: This exercise helps redirect the mind to the present and eases feelings of panic or anxiety. Look around you and name:
• 5 things you can see,
• 4 things you can touch,
• 3 things you can hear,
• 2 things you can smell,
• 1 thing you can taste.
• Deep Breathing: This will help calm your nervous system which is working overtime during feelings of panic and anxiety. Try box breathing—inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds. Repeat until you feel calmer.
• Reach out to someone: If possible, talk to a friend, family member, or therapist. Sometimes, just saying things aloud can be a release.
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On goSupermodel…

We recognise that our community is a place of comfort and safety for many of you and we want to encourage and cherish this. On the topic of suicide, we know our current rules for conversations are lacking and we are working on improving them. We want users to be able to talk about their experiences and seek support, keeping in mind the existing rules such as (but not limited to) refraining from graphic descriptions. Moderation on these conversations is not only to keep users safe but most importantly to protect the users who share personal experiences and to help those in a vulnerable situation.

It is important to remember that today and conversations around it can be triggering for many and we want to remind everyone of the importance of using trigger warnings. These warnings give people a heads-up, allowing them to decide if they are ready to engage or need to step away. By offering a trigger warning, we give people the space they need to process difficult topics on their own terms.

For additional information on this topic, how to navigate it on the platform and where and how to seek support, you can check out this topic. In our "Mental Health Check & Resource" topic, you can reach out and receive support from fellow users as well.

If you need immediate help, always reach out to a National Suicide Prevention hotline - you can find the information for your country here. Do not hesitate to ask for help - you deserve help and you deserve to be here.

With love,

The Inclusivity Group.