What is suicide? And suicidal behavior?

So What is Suicide Actually?? Suicide is said to be the deed of deliberately ending your own life. Many times, it is the path that people choose to end their sufferings and escape their pain. All suicides are great losses that affect the deceased individual’s family, the community they grew up in, and their surroundings. Suicide does not have an age limit. Any person of any age can take measures to end their life. Suicide is known to a very grave public well-being problem; however, suicides can be prevented. Suicidal behavior is referred to as considering the thought or taking actions to end one’s own life. Suicidal tendencies and behaviors is an emergency which requires immediate psychiatric attention.

Suicide – A Cry for Help

“Never, never, never give up.”- Winston Churchill

Gender Disparity in Suicide

A huge gender gap is visible in genders when we talk about suicide. Despite the fact that women have more suicidal thoughts and tendencies, reports of men committing suicide have been more frequent. Men have also been reported to be more aggressive and violent than women over the methods of suicide. Members of the LGBTQ community are more likely to end their own lives than straight people. A research conducted by WHO showed that “41% of transgender adults said they had attempted suicide. 61% of transgender people who were victims of physical assault had attempted suicide.”

What are the warning signs of Suicide?

Alarming suicidal signs include:-

• Immoderate sadness or gloominess: Long-running sadness, mood swings, and unforeseen rage.
• Desperation: Experiencing a sense of desperation about the future, with barely any expectations for the improvement of the circumstances.
• Abrupt Calmness: Becoming calm suddenly after going through a period of depression or extreme sadness and moodiness can be a warning sign that the person has decided to end his or her life.
• Distancing: Preferring to be left alone and trying to avoid friends or social activities are also said to be symptoms of depression, one of the leading sicknesses that lead to suicide. This includes the person losing interest in things and activities which they previously took pleasure in.
• Appearance and personality changes: A person who is having suicidal tendencies may show changes in their daily living. The person also becomes less conscious about the way they carry themselves.

Factors affecting Suicide

There are many factors that cause suicidal tendencies. Frequently, suicidal thoughts are said to be the result of feeling like you cannot deal with challenging circumstances. If you feel hopeless towards the future, you may think that ending your life is the solution. You may go through a tunnel vision, wherein in the middle of a calamity, you are led to believe that suicide is the only way out. A person may be at risk when:

1. They have attempted to commit suicide before.
2. They feel socially isolated, irritated, and hopeless.
3. Being in a hostile environment also affects the individual concerned.
4. They have gone through some emotionally stressful events, such as losing a close friend, a really bad heartbreak, may be legal and financial problems.
5. They have deep-rooted mental health problems such as depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.
6. Having a history in their family of various mental disorders, physical and sexual violence, substance abuse, etc.

Are Mental Disorders associated with Suicidal Thoughts?

The majority of suicide cases have been linked are to mental disorders, with substance use disorders, depression, and psychosis being the most pertinent risk factors. However, personality-related disorders, eating disorders, anxiety, and trauma-associated disorders, as well as organic mental disorders have also been contributing factors. Psychological reports from the previous century have disclosed that the majority of the people who have committed suicide have experienced mental disorders. Comorbidity disorder is an example of such. When a person goes through more than one mental disorder, it is known as a comorbid disorder. For instance, if a person goes through depression and anxiety together, it would be a co-existing or comorbid disorder. In many cases, the mental health doctor and the primary doctor coordinate together for the betterment of their patient.

How to effectively deal with suicidal thoughts and tendencies

When things like despair, pain, and despair become too upsetting to bear, it might seem that suicide is the only way to break free. It’s hard for an individual to see them now, but there are various options that will bring peace and keep you alive to feel love, freedom and happiness again. But in the moment when you struggle with suicidal thoughts, keeping yourself safe, making a plan for understanding the reasons why all of this is happening, you can take measures towards feeling better again. Effective methods would be:

1. Reaching out to the suicide prevention hotline.
2. Seeking medical emergency services
3. Talking to a Friend. There is no shame or embarrassment in trying to reach out for help.
4. Investing time in oneself. It is very important to have a good support system and a really strong self-power.
5. Finding out other people’s stories helps. It helps you realize that you are not the only one suffering. And that there is hope to hold on to.

Management and Treatment

Suicide is not inescapable. The majority of the people facing suicidal tendencies are ambivalent about dying but are unable to imagine any other potential outcome. With good support, people can find their way through the suicidal crisis and become themselves again.

For treatment, it is very essential to seek out professional help. Professional treatments may include-

Psychotherapy- In psychological counseling, you find out the problems that make you feel suicidal and learn to manage emotions. You and your therapist can coordinate together to develop a treatment plan.

Medications- Antipsychotic medications, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications can help reduce symptoms, which can help you feel less suicidal.

Addiction treatment- There are treatments available for drug or alcohol abuse that include detoxification, self-help group meetings, and addiction treatment program.

Support from family- Your family can be a source of support and conflict. Getting them involved in your treatment can help them understand what you’re going through.

How to prevent suicide

Preventing suicide begins with understanding the warning signs and taking them seriously. Being more observant towards people who you feel could be going through something emotionally can help in the long run. As is well recognized, suicidal tendencies take over when emotional and mental needs are not addressed. Hence, constant alertness should be acquired while talking to individuals discussing their emotional and mental states. Sometimes just a kind word is more than enough for an individual to prevent suicide. If any sort of suicidal tendencies is realized in a person, alert the individual’s family, and if not then approach a professional to help that person. It is really essential that we become more aware of our surroundings and help reach out to those who cannot help themselves at the moment.

A number of suicide prevention hotline numbers are available online;

91 9820466726 – AASRA NGO

0832-225-2525 – COOJ MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION

+91-8376804102 – FORTIS STRESS HELPLINE

+91 76766 02602 – PARIVARTHAN

044-24640050 – SNEHA ORGANIZATION