What's going on with nations MH? *[Content warning: concerns suicide]

[Nuggetss]

Another one of my friends when I was at school ended their lives yesterday. This is the third person in 2 years we are in our late 20s. AIBU to think the government need to invest more money in MH. 3 people with their whole lives ahead of them gone. It's very sad one leaving behind DC . Is suicide becoming more common after COVID ? I'm absolutely devastated.

The isolation covid brought, the cost of living crisis, poor mental health services, poor physical health services, the loss of proper interactions, social media, no light at the end of the tunnel.

I'm sorry about your friends

Oh Nuggetss. Three friends? That's awful. Look after yourself.

I think you may be right that Covid may have contributed, as it became so hard to get help or use the normal coping mechanisms.

Covid restrictions ended over a year ago, so I doubt it's anything to do with that. Mental health issues, depression, suicide, etc aren't new phenomenons

Yes, it is becoming more common for a large number of different reasons.
Yes this government needs to invest more in its people and the needs they have.

So sorry to hear this. I was shocked to hear that suicide is the biggest cause of death of men under 50. Any other disease causing this many deaths would be attended to with much more enthusiasm (and funding). I know it's tricky to deal with (have personal experience of it myself) but I definitely think more can be done. Have ideas myself on how to bring it down.

I think it’s all the “cost of living crisis” stuff. It’s miserable to read about. It makes me worried about the future, and we’ve got well paid secure jobs, so I can only imagine what people on the breadline are feeling like. It’s bleak. I try not to read the newspaper, but it’s addictive.

What ideas do you have ? This is actually 2 females and one male so different from usual. We come from a small town.

It's kids too.
CAMHS is buckling under the pressure.
1/4 kids are unable to attend school due to anxiety 😥

Yeah MH doesn't work like that

It could very well be, it's not uncommon for there to be a delayed response to traumatic events. For example, the suicide rate in Northern Ireland significantly increased once the Troubles were over.

I'm sorry to hear this. It is very sad.

I'm pretty sure there has indeed been an upsurge in reported mental health problems and people seeking help. On the bright side, suicide rates are actually lower now than in the 80s and 90s, though I don't have the figures for 2022.

Data

(Both my father and grandmother died by suicide and I volunteer for the Samaritans so I am really not being glib about this).

The impacts of covid didn't. Nor Brexit.

It’s the lack of HOPE.

That’s the cause.

There was a time (my parents lived through it), where a person who had left school and got an ordinary job could, after a few years could afford to get married and buy a small house.

They could afford a holiday each year. Perhaps two if they stayed in the UK.

Those who were in more modest jobs could rent a council home where they at least had low rent and security of tenure.

Now, unless you have a raft of qualifications, if you’re doing an “ordinary” job such as working in a shop or cafe, you will struggle to rent a room in a shared house.

The “hope”’of progressing to what was once a modest, reasonable family existence, is now beyond the price range of many in this country.

For that reason, many people are checking out.

Mental health services were on the brink of collapse when I was first referred to them 25 years ago … they’ve been teetering on that brink for a long time. They’ve always been a relatively poorly funded area of health care, so it’s hardly surprising they’re going under. I know if I had a crisis point in the near future, I’ll end up taking myself out, there’s no one to help me 🤷‍♀️

Life is getting unbelievably hard for normal people and covid was nail in the coffin, IMO. We lead more isolated lives than our parents used to. Internet is our substitute to friendships. I think it's also quite depressing when we see richer getting richer and poor being poorer now, this won't end well. I am so sorry about your friends 😔

Btw. I really think public services access went to pooper in the UK. Not that long ago (beginning of this year) my husband asked for support, as he was struggling after his grandma died alone (she raised him, so she was like mother to him). They replied offering online counselling two weeks ago. He could have been gone by this time if he didn't manage. He was really numb and depressed for few months. It was hard for both of them, we spent many nights crying and trying to get the pieces back together.
It was on the news that woman rang mental health helpline saying she's thinking of committing suicide, they didn't contact her ASAP as they promised, she took her life away. Or this guy in Plymouth who went to the streets and killed innocent people. His mother begged police and NHS to check on him, as she was concerned about his mental health.

*for both of us, sorry...

Many reasons I suspect, including people feeling hopeless and worried about the future, having no control over their circumstances, being treated as automata in the workplace, the gig economy providing no stability, children and young people being bombarded 24 hours a day ending up with unrealistic expectations of what their lives should look like and social isolation, drugs and alcohol, relationship breakdown caused by the pornification of relationships.

It's been an ongoing issue for many year. I lost several friends in a very short space of time to suicide back in 2008. It was reported in the papers and we were called the suicide town. It was the toughest time for myself and so many others locally.
Unfortunately the mental health services are useless and unless you're in crisis, there is no help. I had a breakdown back in January and have had very little support. Any help I've received has been through wellbeing courses that I had to sort myself.
I'm so sorry for the loss of your friends. There are suicide charities out there that can help support you with this.

@SheWoreARaspberryBeret123 Absolutely true. My DD is one of them and accessing help has been a nightmare. I live in constant terror that the self harming will go further.
So sorry about your friends op.

I am sorry for your loss OP 😢

Its very sad. Late 20s is very difficult for many people. I myself had a mental health episode late 20s. My psychiatrist said it’s usually around 27/28 that stress triggers a lot of things.

My best friend works in the field. I asked him about suicide as I couldn’t understand why suicidal people were rarely sectioned.

He said that 99% of suicidal people won’t successfully commit suicide and so you can’t just section everyone to catch that one person. And that one person is probably not the person talking about it or seeking help anyway and that they will be the out of the blue case.

Very sad. I really don’t know the answer.

The UK is a bleak place to live now and society isn't inclusive - it never really was, but it seems worse these days. A lot of people are isolated and living on the margins and you can't exist like that long term, so they check out.

I worry about my ds because he's autistic and he's told me that he has no future and can't see the point. There is literally no help available. People are frightened.

He said that 99% of suicidal people won’t successfully commit suicide and so you can’t just section everyone to catch that one person. And that one person is probably not the person talking about it or seeking help anyway and that they will be the out of the blue case.

I've done Mental Health First Aid Training. If someone says they're suicidal you ask if they've made plans. Lots of people are suicidal but don't actually make plans. Having plans is more serious.

But on the other hand, lots of attempts are spur of the moment - which is why restrictions on paracetamol pack sizes and having them in blister packs reduced overdoses.

I'm so sorry, that is really tough.

I think things feel very hopeless in this country at the moment. I wish there was more support for people.

💛