Ashima Sharda Mahindra • 13 Aug 2024
Graham Thorpe Suicide: How Can You Support A Family Member Suffering From Depression, Anxiety?
Explain your loved ones that depression and anxiety are health conditions and not character flaws or signs of weakness
Amanda Thorpe, the wife of former England cricketer Graham Thorpe, has revealed that her husband ended his life after a prolonged struggle with depression and anxiety.
According to news reports, the 55-year-old's mental health issues worsened due to declining physical health over the past two years. Thorpe died on August 5 the entire cricketing world in a state of shock. Wishes poured in from all corners of the globe with several former cricketers from Australia, England, Pakistan, and India sending their condolences to his family.
"Despite having a wife and two daughters whom he loved and who loved him, he did not get better. He was so unwell in recent times, and he did believe that we would be better off without him, and we are devastated that he acted on that and took his own life," said Amanda, in an interview with The Times. "For the past couple of years, Graham had been suffering from major depression and anxiety. This led him to make a serious attempt on his life in May 2022, which resulted in a prolonged stay in an intensive care unit,” she added.
How to take care of your loved ones suffering from depression, and anxiety?
According to experts, it is a huge challenge to help someone battling depression and other mental health issues. If someone you know has depression, you may feel helpless and wonder what to do. However, doctors say the more you learn about depression, how it affects people, and how it can be treated, the better you will be able to help someone else.
Learn how to support and understand them and help them get the resources they need. Here's what you can do.
Learn about the signs and symptoms
While the signs of depression and anxiety vary from one person to another, common ones include:
- Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
- Angry outbursts, irritability, or frustration, even over small matters
- Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Tiredness and lack of energy
- Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased appetite and weight gain
- Physical problems that they are not able to explain
- Anxiety, restlessness, or nervousness
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, focusing on past failures
- Frequent or repeated mention of not wanting to live, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, or suicide
Ways to help
To help your loved ones deal with low feelings, that can lead them to take drastic steps, you can help by:
- Talking to them about what you have seen and why you are worried about it
- Explain to them that depression and anxiety are health conditions and not character flaws or signs of weakness
- suggest seeking help from a professional therapist, counselor, or psychologist
- Offer to help prepare a list of questions to discuss in the first appointment with a mental health experts
- Express your willingness to help by setting up appointments, going along to them, and attending family therapy sessions
Understanding the risks of suicide
Doctors say those battling severe depression are at an increased risk of suicide. Always take all signs of suicidal behavior seriously and act immediately.
Seek help
Always be in touch with the person’s doctor to know what is going on in their life
Contact a suicide hotline
Ask for advice and what resources are in your area. Or urge the person at risk to contact a hotline for counseling
Make sure they are safe
At home, make sure to get rid of things that could be used to attempt suicide. For example, remove or lock up firearms, other weapons, and medicines.
Show support
If your loved one is in treatment for depression, help them remember to take prescriptions and keep appointments.
Stay alert
Learn and stay alert for common warning signs of suicide or suicidal thoughts
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