It’s possible that you haven’t seen a semicolon tattoo but if you haven’t it’s probably because it’s covered up (it’s Kuwait after all) or you just didn’t notice. If you don’t know what a semicolon is, here is its definition. Semicolon: A punctuation mark (;) indicating a pause, typically between two main clauses, that is more pronounced than that indicated by a comma.

This month’s column is about suicide…or more specifically, not completing suicide. It’s okay if you don’t feel like reading the rest of this article but take a deep breath and read it anyway. Suicide happens even in Kuwait. It is the stigma associated with mental health issues that often contribute to the sense of hopelessness that people experience in asking for help. Having lived in the Middle East long enough to gain an experiential understanding of the culture and of the beliefs and attitudes that permeate the social fabric of life, I am confident in saying, “You need to read this.”

So, what’s a semicolon have to do with this uncomfortable and emotionally-provocative topic?

Project Semicolon was born from a social media movement in 2013. Those who subscribe to the philosophy describe themselves as a “…movement dedicated to presenting hope and love to those who are struggling with depression, suicide, addiction, and self-injury. Project Semicolon exists to encourage, love, and inspire.” But why a semicolon? “A semicolon is used when an author could have ended the sentence but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life.” Those who have nearly completed suicide but who didn’t succeed have adopted the semicolon as a reminder that life is precious. Their life is precious. A reminder that their story isn’t finished yet; there’s reason to live.

Mental health issues can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime. No one is immune. Read that again. No.One.Is.Immune. That means it’s a good idea to know what resources are available in your community and it’s a good idea to know what to say to someone who tells you they are feeling suicidal. Or, as is more likely to happen in Kuwait, hints at how they are feeling. Would you recognize when your friend/sister/brother is talking about “wanting to be free of this pain,” or “hating life,” or “too tired to go on,” that they may be referring to suicide?

In 30+ years of working with people who are struggling with the wounding that is part of being human, I’ve never had a client struggling with thoughts of suicide who actually wanted to be dead. Rather, these individuals experiencing overwhelming emotional pain just wanted it to stop. That’s all they were thinking about. They weren’t thinking about the permanence of completing suicide, the pain of those left behind, or the stigma their families might face. They were simply intent on escaping a present reality so painful that ‘not existing’ seemed preferable.

Let me say it again – when emotional pain is overwhelming and there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight, suicide begins to seem like a viable option. This is true of individuals in every culture, every religion, every socio-economic status. Denying this reality puts real people at real risk in real time.

In the past, reported suicide rates have been low in Islamic countries and being Muslim was seen as an “inoculation” against such events, however, research data is clear; suicide is on the rise, even in countries which are predominantly Muslim. The process of modernization (three inter-related processes of industrialization, urbanization, and secularization) appears to be eroding the ties of the individual to society and this has led to the questioning of religion and weakening of faith. (Essentially, a lot of fancy words for “suicide happens everywhere.”) Mental health issues do not respect any lines drawn anywhere, for any reason. No one wants to believe that someone they know may be thinking of suicide. Nevertheless, it happens, even in Kuwait.

Talk about it. Talk to friends. Pay attention to the language you hear. ‘Hopelessness’ is the primary reason individuals attempt suicide. Ending the stigma of mental health issues and offering effective support to those seeking help will go a long way towards ensuring the semicolon tattoo remains a rare thing in Kuwait.

There are many qualified and effective mental health professionals and services available in Kuwait. Why not take the time to find out who and where they are? The Middle East Psychological Association’s website, www.mepa.me/search_directory.php, is a good place to start.

It’s not a comfortable subject. I get that… But it is a life-altering issue, for everyone. Be brave – arm yourself with real information and talk about it. You might save a life.

Susannah-Joy is a psychotherapist and complex trauma specialist based in Canada. Find her on Twitter @aboutthattrauma, Instagram @SuJo1963 and Facebook @william.associates. Photo by Timothy L Brock on Unsplash.