Suicide Prevention Month: Understanding, Recognizing, and Responding with Compassion

A Nubi Wellness Center Guide for September, Suicide Prevention Month

| 3 Minutes Read

Every September, the world observes Suicide Prevention Month, a time set aside to talk openly about a subject many people would rather avoid. At Nubi Wellness Center, we believe silence has never protected anyone. Understanding is what protects people. This month, and every month, we want our community in Surulere, across Lagos, and beyond to know the facts, recognize the signs, and understand how to respond when someone they love is struggling.

This isn’t an easy topic, and it doesn’t need to be a scary one either. Suicide is preventable in many cases, and prevention starts with awareness. Here is what every family, friend, colleague, and community member should know.

What Is Suicide, and Why Talk About It Now

Suicide is the act of intentionally ending one’s own life, usually as a response to unbearable emotional or psychological pain that feels like it has no other exit. It is rarely about wanting life to end; more often, it is about wanting the pain to end. This distinction matters, because it shifts the conversation from judgement to compassion.

Nigeria continues to see rising concern around suicide, particularly among young people navigating academic pressure, unemployment, financial hardship, and untreated mental health conditions. Talking about it openly, the way we are doing now, does not put the idea into anyone’s head. Research consistently shows the opposite: open, responsible conversation reduces stigma and encourages people to seek help sooner.

Common Causes and Triggers

Suicidal thoughts rarely come from a single cause. They usually build up from a combination of pressures, some visible and some hidden.

Common triggers include:

• Underlying mental health conditions: depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions that go undiagnosed or untreated.
• Financial hardship: job loss, debt, business failure, or the pressure of providing for a family with limited resources.
• Grief and loss: the death of a loved one, a breakup, divorce, or estrangement from family.
• Trauma and abuse: bullying, harassment, or abuse, whether physical, emotional, or online.
• Social isolation: feeling isolated from family, friends, or community, especially common among students and young professionals living far from home.
• Alcohol or drug use: substance misuse, which can worsen impulsivity and hopelessness.
• Chronic illness: a serious diagnosis, chronic pain, or a decline in physical health.
• Stigma and shame: cultural or religious pressure around marriage, career, or family expectations, and the shame that can come from feeling like a disappointment.

None of these causes guarantee that someone will develop suicidal thoughts. But knowing what tends to increase risk helps us pay closer attention to the people carrying these burdens.

Warning Signs to Watch For

People who are struggling do not always say it directly. Often, the signs show up in behaviour, mood, and speech long before a crisis. Watch for:

• Verbal cues: talking about wanting to die, feeling hopeless, or being a burden to others.
• Withdrawal: withdrawing from friends, family, church, or activities they once enjoyed.
• Sudden “tidying up”: giving away treasured possessions, saying goodbye, or getting affairs in order.
• Substance use: increased use of alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism.
• Mood shifts: reckless behaviour, or on the other hand, a sudden and unexplained sense of calm after a period of depression.
• Changes in sleep or appetite: insomnia, oversleeping, loss of appetite, or noticeable fatigue.
• Preoccupation with death: searching online for methods or acquiring means to harm themselves.

If you notice several of these signs together, especially a sudden change from how someone usually behaves, take it seriously. It is always better to ask and be wrong than to stay silent and regret it.

Suicide Prevention Tips

Prevention is not only the work of therapists and doctors. It is something families, friends, schools, workplaces, and faith communities can practise every day. Some starting points:

• Normalise mental health conversations: Create spaces, at home, at work, or in church, where people feel safe discussing their struggles without judgement.
• Encourage regular check-ins on mental health: Depression, anxiety, and other conditions respond well to treatment when caught early. Don’t wait for a crisis.
• Stay connected: A phone call, a visit, or a simple message can remind someone they are not alone.
• Limit access to means: If someone is at immediate risk, remove access to firearms, medications in large quantities, or other dangerous items where possible.
• Support professional care: Encourage professional support the way you would for a physical illness. A psychiatrist, psychologist, or counsellor is not a last resort; they are the right first step.
• Educate your community: Community and faith leaders can be trained to recognise warning signs and respond appropriately.
• Take care of your own mental health: Helping someone else starts with being okay yourself. Rest, seek support, and set boundaries where needed.

How to Help Someone Struggling with Suicidal Thoughts

If someone you love is showing warning signs, or has told you directly that they are thinking about suicide, here is how to respond:

1. Ask directly, without fear: Find a quiet, private moment and ask directly: “Are you thinking about suicide?” Direct questions do not plant the idea; they open the door for honesty.
2. Listen without judgement: Resist the urge to fix, judge, minimise, or lecture. Simply listen. Let them feel heard.
3. Avoid minimising their pain: Comments like “you have so much to live for” can feel dismissive in the moment. Instead, acknowledge their pain: “That sounds incredibly heavy. I’m glad you told me.”
4. Stay with them: If they are in immediate danger, do not leave them alone. Stay with them or arrange for someone trustworthy to do so.
5. Help them access professional support: Gently guide them toward a mental health professional, a trusted family member, or a helpline. Offer to help make the call or book the appointment.
6. Follow up: Check in again the next day, the next week, and beyond. Recovery is not a single conversation; it is ongoing support.
7. Know when it’s an emergency: If there is an immediate, active plan or means, do not wait. Get them to a hospital or contact emergency services right away.

Suicide prevention is not a one-month conversation. It is a daily commitment to noticing, listening, and caring for one another without judgement. This September, and always, let’s choose to check on our people.

How Nubi Wellness Center Can Support You

If you or someone you know is in crisis right now, please reach out to Nubi Wellness Center. You do not have to navigate this alone, and neither does anyone you are worried about. We are here to listen without judgement.

Reach out today. Book a session, ask a question, or simply talk to someone who understands.

WhatsApp: 09070990088 | Phone: 07054109566

Website: www.nubiwellnesscenter.com

Visit us: 31 Ayinde Giwa Street, Surulere, Lagos

You can also reach us on social media, we’re active and responsive across all platforms:

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