Christine Husbands, a commercial consultant at Redarc, comments the theme of the World Day for this Year's Suicide Prevention:
“Changing the story” is a very suitable theme for World Day for this Year's Suicide Prevention. Just as we do not attribute the blame to individuals for physical diseases, we must strive to recognize mental health problems with greater sensitivity and compassion. Unfortunately, stigma persists and some people continue to face a judgment or to shame when they seek support for their mental well-being.
Significant progress has indeed been made in the reduction of taboos surrounding mental health for many people, but some still exist, in particular in certain demographic and communities, for example, among men, the elderly and in specific cultural or social groups.
Our nursing team provides dedicated support not only to people confronted with mental health challenges themselves, but also those who deal with other people with mental health problems, as well as people affected by suicide. They recognize that mental health problems are often experienced and managed differently from physical illnesses, and by offering emotional support and facilitating therapy or structured advice in a timely time, they play a vital role by helping individuals on their way to recovery.
The responsibility for prevention of suicide is all in our industry, insurers to advisers in social benefits, employers and mental health specialists. Together, we must help people overcome the initial obstacle of helping help by making support more visible, encouraging care and normalizing access to support.
By promoting a culture of openness, empathy and understanding of mental health, we can move away from obsolete perceptions and replace them with a more useful approach. This change of perspective is essential if we want to reduce stigma, encourage people to ask for help without fear of judgment and finally save lives.
