Turning silence into support in the fight against suicide
As World Suicide Prevention Day was marked on 10 September, SAT-7 is breaking through stigma and silence to bring hope to viewers in the depths of despair.
Every 40 seconds, somewhere in the world, a life is lost to suicide – amounting to more than 700,000 deaths every year. Globally, more than half of all suicides are committed by those under the age of 45, with men taking their own lives at almost twice the rate of women. [1] In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – where stigma leaves many stories unspoken –
the full scale of the issue is hard to see, and official figures often fall short of reality. But the region’s turmoil adds extra risk factors, including conflict, persecution, displacement and economic instability.
“From our experience, we see that suicidal thoughts are most often linked to family conflicts and broken relationships, loss of meaning and purpose, rising levels of anxiety and depression, social media comparisons and negative influence, and financial stress and a sense of hopelessness,” explains Marianne Awaraji, SAT-7 ARABIC’s Audience Relations Manager.
Programming opens doors
Still from Perhaps God Sees Me programme
Against this backdrop, SAT-7 is directly addressing mental health and suicide in the region, airing programmes across our Arabic, Turkish and Persian channels that tackle issues including trauma, self-worth, and family and relationship problems.
SAT-7 also harnesses the power of storytelling to address mental health. Award-winning short film Perhaps God Sees Me, made as part of the Youth for an Enabling Society (YES) project, beautifully portrays one woman’s journey of overcoming despair and rediscovering self-worth.
These programmes – ranging from on-air discussions to meaningful series and films – open doors to conversations viewers might never otherwise hold.
Viewer support crucial
And when those conversations begin, SAT-7’s Viewer Support teams are there to respond. They listen without judgement, remind viewers of their worth, connect them with professional help, and share the hope of a God who sees, loves, and never abandons…
“Death is the solution… just to rest,” suggested a 35-year-old viewer in Algeria for whom despair was once overwhelming. But after talking with a member of the Viewer Support team, he started to rediscover his value through faith in Christ: “I began to enjoy being alone with my Lord, speaking to Him words from my heart, and He listens to my groaning and my
suffering.”
In Morocco, a 21-year-old woman reached out after heartbreak left her wishing her life would end. The team reassured her of her worth and gave practical advice on building self-confidence. “I spend my time studying, reading, exercising, dancing, and writing down my feelings,” she shared. “I think more positively now,”
From Egypt, a mother of two wrote of being trapped in an abusive marriage, overwhelmed by loneliness and depression. Simply being heard made a difference: “You allowed me to talk without fear. Many thanks for your service. God bless.”
Between January and August of this year, SAT-7 ARABIC’s Viewer Support team held 63 conversations with viewers experiencing suicidal thoughts. Different approaches are taken depending on the level of assessed risk, which is carried out by a consultant counsellor and an immediate referral made to professional help if needed. In all cases, team members
seek to acknowledge the person’s pain and help them find the right support and a way back to hope.
“Our team consistently listens with empathy and validates the person’s feelings, gently asks questions to help them open up, shares the message of God’s unconditional love, and offers to pray with them,” Marianne explains. “Many report feeling touched and comforted during these moments.”
By opening up space for such conversations, and by meeting people with compassion and practical support, SAT-7 is helping people to find a way forward.
Marianne says, “We are grateful that on World Suicide Prevention Day we can affirm this: SAT-7 is committed to listening, supporting, and guiding viewers toward safety, healing, and a restored sense of worth and hope.”