This world is full of stressors that can make us think that death or taking your own life is the only way to escape from the nightmare of reality. Once stress has already engulfed a person’s sense of being, he will surely be a feasible candidate for suicide. Rich or poor, young or old, each and every one of us is prone to suicide, a deadly phenomenon. Whether biological or psychological, suicide is never a pretty sight to see for all of us. Upon reading this article, you will learn most of the important facts and management related to suicide
Definition of Terms:
- Suicide - an act of intentionally causing one’s death
- Suicide attempt - a non-fatal self-directed potentially injurious behavior with any intent to die as a result of the behavior.
- Suicide ideation - thinking about considering or planning for suicide.
Facts about Suicide:
- One million people die by suicide every year.
- It is the 13th leading cause of death according to the World Health Organization.
- It is the 6th cause of death in the United States based on the National Safety Council.
- A leading cause of death among teenagers and adults (<35 years old).
- Incidence is higher in men than women.
- 70-80% of the general population thought of committing suicide.
- 10-20 million non-fatal attempted suicides every year worldwide.
- Most attempts are expressions of extreme distress, not harmless bids for attention.
Most prevalent diagnoses related to suicide:
- Phobia – 15%
- Alcohol abuse – 10%
- Depression – 6%
Causes of Suicidal incidences:
- Mental disorder – such as depression, paranoia, etc.
- Physical condition – such as chronic pain, epilepsy, stroke, dementia, AIDS, etc.
Circumstances related to Suicide:
- Love and relationship.
- Family problems.
- Financial problems.
- Work-related problems.
Warning signs to note about if someone is a potential candidate to commit suicide:
- Loss of self-esteem
- Suddenly making a will and/or taking out life insurance
- Sleep problems
- Lack of self-care
- Isolation and hopelessness
- Talking about suicide
- Marked change in behavior
How to talk with someone who is suicidal?
- Express empathy.
- Active listening.
- Don’t agree about their thoughts of suicide.
- Instill hope.
- Help them understand that they have control over their thoughts and behavior.
- Consider person’s belief system and values.
- Encourage them to think about their personal strengths.
- Anything important to the person’s life that which may reduce immediate risk.
- Focus on importance of person to people they care about.
General Prevention of Suicide Ideation:
- Exercise and diet
- Lift your mood
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Improve self-esteem
- Avoid isolation
- Stay positive
- Alcohol misuse
- Illegal drugs
Suicide Prevention (according to the World Health Organization):
- Gain control
- Psychiatric treatment
- Control of toxic substances
- Physical barrier
- Responsible media reporting
- Gas detoxification