9/11, 9/10

Is it pure coincidence that the World Suicide Prevention Day is on September 10, one day before the iniquitous 9/11 tragedy?

Who can forget the devastation caused by four suicide bombers who synchronized the massive assault to crash their planes into the twin towers of World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Arlington Virginia? The fourth hijacked jet targeting the US Capitol Building in Washington D.C. crashed in a field near Shanksville Pennsylvania. The passengers had bravely fought the hijackers to take control of the plane, sacrificing their own lives to avert an even larger death toll.

All 19 terrorists aboard the two American Airlines and two United Airlines flights were killed. Their handiwork left about 3,000 people dead, including the 246 passengers aboard the four planes that day. But as heartbreaking as these figures are, it almost corresponds to the shocking daily count of deaths by suicide around the world.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an average of almost 3,000 die by their own hand every day. Worldwide, there are one million suicides every year or one every 40 seconds. These mindboggling numbers exclude attempted suicides which is 20 times the number of those that succeed, or one attempt every 1.5 seconds! The number of lives lost each year through suicide exceeds the number of deaths due to homicide and war combined. Suicide has become one of the leading causes of death among young people.

Eleven years later, the healing from the trauma of 9/11 continues. The new 16-acre, $14.8B WTC complex, has four new towers, a memorial park and a museum that houses the granite staircase that survived the attacks. One and Four World Trade Center are scheduled to open in the next two years, while Two and Three are in the early stages of development. WTC has become the symbol of America’s indomitable spirit and recovery.

The events of 9/11 have been immortalized in a Television News Archive, a library of news coverage on the event and its aftermath as preserved in 3,000 hours from 20 channels over seven days. It features international and US broadcasters, with select analysis from scholars.

Thirty teams belonging to the Major League Baseball will commemorate the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attack with on-field tributes. The “We-shall-not-forget” MLB silhouetted batter will be displayed in all their ballparks. The special, “Nine Innings from Ground Zero,” will be also be re-aired.

But the most touching gesture is probably the launch of a children’s book called “The Survivor Tree” by Cheryl Somers Aubin, beautifully illustrated by Sheila Harrington. When workers were clearing the rubble weeks after the attack, they found a badly scarred pear tree with a few remaining green leaves. The book tells the story of how the Survivor Tree was nursed back to health and replanted to its former home. It is a lesson of hope amid the sadness.

It is primarily hopelessness that conjures thoughts of ending one’s life. According to the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), the co-sponsor of WHO, “Suicide is a multi-determined phenomenon that occurs against a background of complex interacting biological, social, psychological and environmental risk and protective factors.” But despite the complexity of this phenomenon, suicide can be prevented.

On September 10, IASP and partners, have lined up activities and events to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. Dr. Lanny Berman, president of IASP, announced the theme, “Strengthening Protective Factors and Instilling Hope.”

The day’s program in 50 participating countries includes memorial walks, conferences, mental health screening, music concerts, education talks and suicide prevention workshops. Or one can simply light a candle near a window at 8 p.m., in support of suicide prevention, to remember a loved one lost and for those bereaved by suicide.

To reduce the risk of suicide and repetition of attempted suicide, several social and cultural factors come into play i.e. religious and social integration; social connectedness; maintenance of good relationships with friends, colleagues and neighbors; access to support from relevant others; and ready access to health care. A healthy lifestyle, good diet and sleep habits, regular physical activity and abstinence from smoking further lessen the risk of suicidal behavior.

Among psychological factors, the ability to cope with adverse life events and adjust to them or resilience, a sense of personal self-worth and self-confidence, effective coping and problem-solving skills, and adaptive help-seeking behavior are often considered to be protective against the development of suicidal behaviors.

Over here, NGF (Natasha Goulbourne Foundation), a non-profit NGO has been at the forefront of promoting mind and body health and addressing depression. Jeanie Goulbourne and her sister Frances Lim channeled their grief over the loss of Natasha, Jeanie’s daughter, to reach out to other families who have suffered the same pain. “Depression is a condition that knows no social class; it could strike anyone regardless of intelligence, educational attainment and financial standing,” said Jeanie. As a way to reach out to those who need support, information and education for this treatable disease, NGF was set up in 2007.

Many depressives suffer in silence due to lack of knowledge, fear of stigma and other prevailing misconceptions. Some signs of depression are: lack of appetite with eating disorders and weight loss; feeling down; fatigue and restlessness; intense anxiety and withdrawal from friends and family. Severe depression can lead to suicide. As Frances Lim said, “Acknowledging the need for help is the first step.” NGF has mounted educational seminars especially for OFWs and their families who are most vulnerable to depression.

The 19 suicide bombers of 9/11 willingly gave their lives for the promise of being welcomed in heaven by 70 beautiful virgins. It was their mission, their life’s purpose. Dealing a fatal blow to their perceived enemy was worth dying for.

But the annual one million deaths by suicide is another story. It is an appalling waste of precious life. And it is preventable, if only the “shame” of calling out for help can be overcome.

(NGF can be reached at: 0917-527-HOPE(4673); 8972217; [email protected])

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Email: [email protected]