KUCHING: Mental Health Association of Sarawak (MHAS) chairman Dr Ismail Drahman says there are 14 suicide warning signs that the public should look out for.
These warning signs are making suicide threats; negative view of self; a sense of hopelessness or no hope for the future; isolation or feeling alone; aggressiveness and irritability; possessing lethal means; feeling like a burden to others; drastic changes in mood and behaviors; frequently talking about death; self-harm like cutting behaviours; engaging in risk behaviours; making funeral arrangements; giving personal items away; and substance abuse.
“This is a guide to know your own feelings, thoughts, behavior or people who are close to, so that those close to them need to take action, such as allowing them to ventilate their feelings, seek for friendly advice or get professional help,” he told the New Sarawak Tribune in an interview yesterday.
Dr Ismail said not everyone knows what feelings, thoughts and behavior of those who feel suicidal are going through.
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2017, suicidal behavior encompasses ideation, plan and/or attempt.
From 2012 to 2017, the suicidal ideation increased from 7.9 per cent to 10 per cent while the plan increased from 6.4 per cent to 7.3 per cent and the attempts also increased by 0.1 per cent from 6.8 to 6.9 per cent.
Meanwhile, MHAS will hold a talk on the topic of ‘Hooked Online — Internet Addiction’ on July 18 (Thursday) from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
“Those who wish to attend the talk are advised to call up MHAS first as our office space is quite small, thus we can only cater for a small group,” Dr Ismail said.
For more details, members of the public can contact MHAS via telephone or WhatsApp at 082-231459 and 016-8082015 or email at mhasarawak69@gmail.com.
