Suicide Prevention
Suicide Prevention is a collection of efforts to reduce the risk of suicide. These efforts may occur at the individual, relationship, community, and society levels. Suicide is often preventable.
WHO’s Statistics on Suicide:
According to World Health Organization, more than 700,000 people die by suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds. Suicide is a global phenomenon. 77% of suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries in 2019. Suicide accounts for 1.3% of all deaths worldwide.
Difference Between Suicide and Suicide Attempt
Suicide is when people harm themselves with the goal of ending their life, and they die as a result.
A Suicide attempt is when people harm themselves with the goal of ending their life, but they do not die.
Warning Signs:
Warning signs, that someone may be at immediate risk for attempting suicide include:
- Talking or thinking about death frequently
- Talking about being a burden to family, friends
- Remaining in isolation and withdrawing from family and friends
- Posting depressive posts on social media
- Feeling unbearable physical or emotional pain
- Giving away important possessions
- Taking great risks that can lead to death, such as jumping from a building roof or driving at an extremely fast pace
- Talking about feeling great guilt or shame
- Using drugs or alcohol too often
- Changing eating and sleeping habits
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
- Talking about feeling hopeless and having no reason to live.
Suicidal thoughts or actions are a sign of extreme distress and should not be ignored.
Risk Factors:
Following are the different factors that are often the reason for a person to commit suicide:
- Depression, mental disorders
- Substance use disorders
- Chronic Pain
- Family history of substance use or mental disorder
- Poor financial conditions
- Relationship disputes with family/partner
- Poor academic performance
- Failing to achieve a goal, like not being able to win a hockey game or losing at Olympics
- Guilt after committing a crime or behaving in a bad manner
- Bullying, harassment, or shame at the workplace, school, or anywhere in public
- Sexual assault
- Loss of a loved one
Treatments:
Effective, evidence-based interventions are available to help people who are at risk for suicide.
- “ Personalized safety planning” is when a patient works with a psychiatrist/psychologist to develop a plan that limits access to lethal items or objects such as poison, pills, knives, blades. The plan also includes coping strategies, people, and resources that can help in preventing suicide.
- A series of follow-up phone calls and further screening can also decrease the risk of suicide.
Following interventions may help in preventing suicide:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:
It can help people in learning new ways of dealing with stressful situations.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy:
It can help a person recognize when their feelings or actions are disruptive or unhealthy and can teach skills that can be more helpful in coping with stressful situations.
If you’re feeling down or having suicidal thoughts, you may contact us immediately at our website: herohealthcare.org
Or you can send us an email at: [email protected]
Or you can contact us at +92-315-0500-158