Expert urges support, not punishment, for suicidal people

Credit: Meadows Behavioural Health

A psychotherapist and mental health practitioner, Dr Favour Alexander, has urged the government to prioritise clinical and non-judgmental support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts rather than criminalising them.

Alexander made the call during an interview on ARISE News on Saturday, arguing that suicidal thoughts should be treated as a mental health concern requiring professional intervention rather than punishment.

She said mental health professionals needed to look beyond the outward behaviour of people experiencing suicidal thoughts and examine the underlying issues affecting them.

“The question is, what is going on in their brains? Like you can see here, I don’t know if you see the human brain anatomy so that you will understand things that are happening. It’s not just about what you see here, but you have to look at what is going on in here,” she said.

The psychotherapist said criminalising people experiencing suicidal thoughts would not address the underlying issues contributing to their condition.

“So now criminalizing people who are suffering or going through suicidal thoughts, to us professionals, we don’t think that is the best solution. We have to deal with clinically what is happening in their brains,” Alexander said.

She questioned whether taking one’s life could resolve the problems that might have contributed to suicidal thoughts, stressing the need to understand the circumstances surrounding such thoughts.

“Why are they thinking this way? Why would somebody think about the immediate solution to a long life issue? Taking your life, does that solve the problem? Absolutely not,” she queried.

Alexander said government intervention should focus on making appropriate professional support available to people experiencing suicidal thoughts and other mental health challenges.

“So I don’t think it is right for the government making it into law that they have to criminalize them. Rather, these people need clinical support. They need support, non-judgmental support,” she said.

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She also noted that people experiencing suicidal thoughts may not always display obvious signs of distress, saying individuals who appear successful and well-adjusted could also be struggling privately.

“Like part of the question you just asked again, you could see people walking on the street, well-dressed, looking so cool and so nice, bank managers, directors of companies, but you don’t know what they are carrying on their heads. You don’t know what is happening there.”

Alexander said such individuals could be struggling internally with questions about whether to continue living despite appearing outwardly fine.

He added: “Should I take my life? Should I continue in this problem? Should I continue living my life? Should I keep carrying on? These things are happening in their brains.”

The mental health practitioner reiterated that criminalising people experiencing suicidal thoughts would not resolve the underlying problems, calling instead for professional intervention.

“So, for the local authority, for the government to now start criminalizing them, that is not right.”

Alexander said trained professionals should be available to provide support to people dealing with suicidal thoughts and other mental health challenges.

She concluded, “They will offer professional support. People who understand what these people are going through.

“People who are empathic. People who will put themselves in their shoes to understand the feelings that these people are going through.”