Debunking Common Suicide Myths

Trigger warning: This blog post contains content related to suicide, which may be distressing to some readers. If you or someone you know is struggling to cope with mental health problems or experiencing thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help using the resources at the end of the article. 

Talking about suicide is often tricky because it’s an uncomfortable topic, generates heartache for many and often comes with stigma. Suicide stigma is driven by misinformation as well as personal bias and unsubstantiated assumptions. The truly effective way to debunk common suicide myths is to inform one’s self and have conversations that are based on facts and evidence. In doing this we can break down societal stigma. Enabling support which those who are contemplating suicide feel like they can more easily reach out for. 

What is Suicide Stigma?

Historically suicide has been a taboo subject in most countries. Today, even where decriminalised, it remains stigmatised and is discouraged.  There are different types of stigma and suicide stigma can be public, communal, personal or self-stigma. 

Suicide stigma is where anyone associated with suicide is viewed negatively, treated differently or discredited. For example, someone who has attempted suicide, family and friends of anyone who has attempted or died by suicide or someone who has died by suicide. Suicide stigma can also mark anyone assisting or counselling a suicidal person and in some places even those who are willing to help with the deceased post-suicide. 

Focusing an open, compassionate approach to suicide prevention is everybody’s responsibility.

Suicide Myths are Based on:

• Humiliation.
• A lack of understanding and empathy.
• Negative beliefs, attitudes and judgements.
• Misinformation and perpetuation of historical views.
• Embarrassment, shame and isolation.

Combating suicide myths is accomplised one onversation at a time.

Common Suicide Myths Debunked

With all of the stigma around suicide, it’s not surprising that there are many myths around it. Here are 5 of the more common ones and the truth being the falsehoods they perpetuate. 

5 Prevalent Suicide Myths

1. Suicide only happens to people with mental health disorders.
2. Talking about suicidewill make things worse.
3. Suicide is selfish.
4. Suicide is shameful.
5. Seeking assistance is a sign of weakness.

1. Suicide only happens to People with Mental Health Disorders

What People Believe:

For many it’s easy to believe that only those with mental health disorders, such as bipolar disorder, will have thoughts of, attempt or commit suicide. This simplifies a very complicated issue and enables people to feel more comfortable with the topic.

What the Truth is:

Although people with mental health struggles might contemplate suicide, they don’t always. And even though they are at a higher risk than those who don’t have mental health challenges, in reality anyone can have suicidal thoughts. It’s estimated that at least one in five people will have suicidal thoughts at some point. Therefore, if we take a step back , we realise that it can affect anyone. And it’s easier to see how we all need to educate ourselves about what suicidal ideation means.   

Anyone contemplating suicide has reached a point where their cognitive abilities are distorted. It does not mean that they are mentally ill. This means that they are battling to solve problems and can be the result of many circumstances. For example, chronic pain, past trauma or abuse. All of which can happen to any of us. For this reason, it’s so important to remove judgment around self-harm and suicide. This enables us to better equip ourselves with the tools to assist and support someone struggling. As well as for those struggling with suicide to reach out and receive the proper support. 

2. Talking about Suicide will make things Worse

What People Believe:

Understandably, we can feel scared or nervous about talking to someone who has expressed tendencies towards self-harm or talked about wanting to take their own life. Some people might believe that talking about the subject might place too much emphasis on the very behaviour or outcome that they are trying to avoid. And in doing so could lead to someone contemplating suicide thinking that you’re implicitly supportive of their committing suicide.

What the Truth is:

Research and evidence show that talking about suicide does not increase the likelihood of someone committing suicide. Instead, it does the opposite. When someone is suicidal and is given an empathetic, non-judgemental space to talk about it they are less likely to commit suicide. Conversely, those who those who aren’t given the opportunity to talk are at a higher risk of attempting suicide. 

However, it is the result of suicide being such a taboo topic that we don’t even know how to approach it. While there is a greater global move towards talking about mental health and other taboo issues more openly, in many cultural contexts even mentioning the topic can be problematic. 

Therefore, it’s essential to find culturally sensitive and accessible ways to address this public health problem. It might not be possible to have open conversations in certain environments. However, we can educate ourselves and others about how to speak to someone who is suicidal.  

Evidence show that talking about suicide helps!

Studies show that asking someone directly about having suicide or self-harm thoughts is the best way to help them. We need to be able to discuss this topic mindfully, sensitively and with kindness. Which requires training and ongoing education. World Suicide Prevention Day (WPSD) aims to do just that.  

3. Suicide is Selfish

What People Believe:

One of the most pervasive myths around suicide is that a person who takes their own life is selfish. This is because many people believe that committing suicide is a personal choice and therefore the assumption is made is that it is a selfish choice. Which is often reenforced by thinking about the pain and loss of those left behind.

What the Truth is:

Suicide is not selfish, in reality it is not a personal choice. This is because by the time someone is attempting suicide their mental state is no longer able to function rationally. Accordingly, their actions are a reflection of this. Selfishness also implies that the person is focused on their own gain, pleasure or wellbeing. However, suicide does not generate these results and often the suicidal thoughts and self-harm are associated with guilt, shame and feeling like a burden. 

Think about what it took for that person to reach that point. The majority of people contemplating suicide reach out but what if no one took them seriously or knew how to help them? Or perhaps they felt helpless and didn’t know how to reach out, or thought that no one would be able to help them. Suicide is usually considered only when someone feels they have exhausted all other possibilities and resources. It can feel like the only option left because the current alternative they are facing feels overwhelming and excruciatingly unbearable.  

Helping someone requires empathy and kindness not judgement and berating.

While terrifying and very uncomfortable, it’s important to try to empathise with how alone a person must have felt leading up to that moment and in that moment. While we can’t change what has happened, we can try to ensure it doesn’t happen to others. 

4. Suicide is Shameful

What People Believe:

hame is based on the belief that something is wrong with oneself or someone else. Historically, suicide has been associated with inadequacy, failure and that there’s a flaw if someone attempts suicide or dies by suicide. Passing judgement is easier than empathy and therefore leads to the conclusion that suicide reflects an inherent problem with a person and is therefore shameful. Furthermore, suicide being regarded as a taboo subject reinforces and perpetuates the myth that it is shameful.

What the Truth is:

Suicide is not shameful. Neither are suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts. People who are suicidal often feel shame but this does not make the act of suicide shameful. Research has shown that self-harm and shame are connected, therefore feelings of shame can be entangled with suicide. This shame could be why people may not seek help. It could also contribute to why suicide doesn’t get the attention it deserves as a public health crisis. 

Addressing shame by being vulnerable is hard. Openly sharing your suicidal thoughts and feelings can feel terrifying because it exposes you to the possibility of judgement and rejection. Sometimes, we may be scared of disappointing and worrying those close to us. However, it’s still important to share with someone you trust and feel safe with or a professional you don’t yet know very well. Speaking with a professionally trained person, who can hold the space for us and help us find new possibilities we cannot see on our own,can also help make sharing less scary. 

The more we speak about suicide, the more we become aware of how common it is, which can help alleviate the perception that it’s shameful. Moreover, speaking about suicide can not only help you but help to break the silence and encourage others to share. 

5. Seeking assistance is a sign of weakness

What People Believe:

A cultural norm that one must be self-reliant, make it, excel or succeed creates barriers to asking for assistance if suicidal. This can be reinforced by the belief that asking for help means you’re incapable, lack capacity or ignorant. For example, in South Africa there are cultural norms whereby people believe that personal struggles should not be aired in public. Therefore, asking for help is a betrayal to family and an admittance of failure.  

What the Truth is:

In reality, not asking for assistance when you need it is often rooted in negative past experiences. For example, perhaps when you asked for help you were ignored, dismissed or belittled. Not wanting to ask for help can also be linked to pride. Thus, the belief that you should be able to overcome challenges on your own and not doing so shows you’re inadequate. 

However, asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Rather it often requires courage, grit and determination at a point where someone is most vulnerable and has little self-esteem.

How to Seek Assistance for Suicide

If you or someone you know is struggling to cope with everyday life or experiencing thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help: 

• SADAG: 0800 21 22 23 (8am to 8pm) or 0800 12 13 14 (8pm to 8am) 
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0800 567 567 
• South African Federation for Mental Health Helpline: 011 781 1852 

You can also empower yourself with knowledge about mental health to learn how to talk more openly about complex topics and manage your mental health, including in crisis.

World Suicide Prevention Day

Adding to the driving of suicide stigma and actively discouraging seeking assistance is the very real issue that attempted suicide is a punishable offence in 40 countries. For example, the USA state of Maryland still reserves the right to prosecute those who attempt suicide. Other countries like Kenya, the Bahamas, India and Papua New Guinea, actively prosecute suicide attempts. And in Tokelau counselling suicide is punishable with a fine or three months imprisonment. Furthermore, in many of these countries, those battling with suicidal thoughts could face fines. Thus, instead of creating safe spaces and encouraging people to seek assistance, the law reinforces stigma and perpetuates suicide mythology. It also ensures that suicide remains a taboo subject. Furthermore, criminalisation of suicide doesn’t decrease suicide rates and punishes those left behind. Consequently, there are organisations which are actively seeking to decriminalise suicide and debunk common suicide myths. 

The Triennial (2024 – 2026) theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is centred around “Change the Narrative” – a call to action to “Start the Conversation.” This theme aims to raise awareness about the need to change how we talk about suicide and break down the stigma around suicide. Thereby shifting our perspective on this complex issue.  

How to Help Others

Why not be part of changing the suicide status quo by taking the opportunity to make a real difference and help others by enrolling at SACAP (The South African College of Applied Psychology)? SACAP graduates are already contributing positively to society, and you can too. SACAP offers a wide range of psychology courses, including the BPsych degree. These also enable a globally recognised pathway to a master’s degree in psychology. Explore SACAP Courses and Apply Online today.