{"id":151041,"date":"2015-12-13T19:08:26","date_gmt":"2015-12-13T23:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=151041"},"modified":"2015-12-13T19:08:26","modified_gmt":"2015-12-13T23:08:26","slug":"stay-well-sparkle-suicide-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/columns\/stay-well-sparkle-suicide-prevention\/","title":{"rendered":"STAY WELL & SPARKLE: Suicide Prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u201cErika have maleh eh pal!… everything wrong in Dominica they blaming it on her.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Nature Isle\u2019s sharp spike in suicides is disconcerting indeed. Though capital punishment lingers on the books in many nations, actually carrying it out is increasingly rare. Civilized Homo sapiens simply recoil at the very notion of hanging another human being. An offensive reminder of lynching in some regions, the noose symbolizes the degree of desperation that drives one to do that to himself.<\/p>\n
Research shows that most people who commit suicide do not really want to die \u2013 they just want to stop hurting. Whether triggered by romantic shock, massive failure or intense embarrassment, suicides flourish in a social context of hopelessness. This is especially true when there is little prospect of gainful employment or means to provide for oneself and family. Men, therefore, are more likely to explode or implode in horrific ways. The holiday spirit seems quite out of reach for the troubled individual. How do we confront the issue? How can we can we minimize the risk to our loved ones and ourselves?<\/p>\n
When I was no more than around 9 years old, living in the Merry-go-Round (now PSU) area of Roseau, the man caring for our cows committed suicide. He used to bring us a pail of milk every morning. Ma\u2019 & Daddy would neatly funnel it into whiskey bottles. It was the children\u2019s jobs to wash said bottles and deliver the product to our customers.\u00a0 Our milkman was quiet, dependable and well trusted. I noticed he had a double thumbnail, which I had innocently asked him about. Why he made the irredeemable move remains a mystery to me. All I recall is that it had to do with his common law wife \u2013 big people business.<\/p>\n
Our mother was a Red Cross nurse. At the time, she worked at the St. Luke\u2019s Mental Hospital located in the same compound as Her Majesty\u2019s Prison. Before the advent of funeral homes, burial had to take place within 24 hours. Because of her schedule, Ma\u2019s only chance to see our deceased was in the restricted area: the Dead Room at PMH. Our local pathologist was at the time performing the autopsy, showing off to a Peace Corps biology teacher. I could see him through the doorway after Ma had knocked patiently then opened. He had sawn off the skullcap and was supporting the brain in his gloved hand.<\/p>\n
The white woman was oohing and aahing.\u00a0 She had never witnessed such a fresh specimen before. The pathologist was visibly irritated at Ma\u2019s intrusion, despite her fervent explanation.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, make it quick. But your little boy cannot come in here. He\u2019ll get nightmares.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSam is a brave boy,\u201d were Ma\u2019s immortal words. \u201cAnd he\u2019s going to be a doctor one day!\u201d<\/p>\n
The pathologist must have found this rather laughable. \u2018Zafa malaway\u2019 in those days could hardly aspire to such a profession. Nonetheless, he hurried us through. First thing I checked for was that double thumbnail. Yes, it was really him! The other thing that stuck in my mind was the two strings leading from the front the brain to the back the eye sockets. Later, in medical school gross anatomy, I realized those were the optic nerves.<\/p>\n
And Ma\u2019 was right. I never had nightmares.<\/p>\n
From that time, mental disease never ceased to intrigue me. I am a great fan of Dr. John Royer, Dominica\u2019s first psychiatrist. His book, Black Britain\u2019s Dilemma, holds a place of honour in my office bookshelf. Before leaving to study, I served as president of the Dominica Mental Health Association and got to represent my country at an overseas conference at age 19. So when our current psychiatrist, Dr. Benjamin, passionately campaigns for more attention to mental health, I am lock step with him.<\/p>\n
Developed countries like the United States devote about 6 percent of their health care budget to mental health. Barbados spends 7 percent. Dr. Benjamin is quoted as asking, \u201cWhy are we spending only 2 percent of our health care budget on mental health\u00a0when mental health accounts for 24 percent of the of the disease burden of the Americas?\u201d Mental illness indeed factors in much of the crime; under productivity and vagrancy that so plagues our dear land.<\/p>\n
This is the message we must invest in getting out to the public: The brain is just another organ. It can malfunction just as any other body part. No one is immune, so it\u2019s time to lose the stigma. Professional help is much more available today. Your job and mine is to recognize the warning signs. Actually getting them to that help is the tricky part.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow you doing?\u201d is a standard greeting in any language. If truth be told, we generally don\u2019t want to hear details. We\u2019d rather a simple pleasant answer like \u201cMweh la,\u201d \u201cI there\u201d or \u201cFine; and you?\u201d But if we notice someone is deeply troubled, instead of gossiping, just be direct. Say something like; \u201cYou\u2019re acting a little differently these days. What\u2019s up with that?\u201d \u201cSince when you\u2019re feeling that way?\u201d \u201cBelieve it or not, these feelings will pass.\u201d Say anything to stimulate conversation and get them to open up.<\/p>\nDr. Sam Christian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
We tend to discourage others from dumping all their burdens on us. After all, we have troubles enough of own. But certain things people say should raise concern: \u201cI wish I was never born,\u201d \u201cIf you never see me again\u2026\u201d or \u201cI\u2019d be better off dead.\u201d Watch out for clues such as self-hatred, violent and self-destructive behavior including substance abuse and unsafe sexual binges, social withdrawal, verbal wills (if I\u2019m ever gone, I want you to have this) or actually giving away valuables for no good reason.<\/p>\n
Middle Eastern fanatics know how to lead people to their god as effectively as Dominican believers know how to lead others to Christ. Now you know how to lead one back from the brink of the abyss. At some point in time, someone within your sphere of influence will need this encouragement: Chabay wed, pa lajay! Get them to hold on just long enough for modern medication and professional counseling to do their magic.<\/p>\n
We have the faith to stop the madness. Save one life and boundless gratitude will be yours – a joy unspeakable and full of glory!<\/p>\n
![\"Noose\"](\"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Noose.jpg\")
\u201cErika have maleh eh pal!… everything wrong in Dominica they blaming it on her.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Dr.](\"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Dr.-Sam-CHRISTIAN-1-287x300.jpg\")