On September 10th of each year the World Day for the PRevention of the Suicidea date that seeks to raise awareness globally that the suicide it is preventable.
He motto This year’s theme is “Change the narrative“, which reflects the need to replace the narrative stigmatizing about the suicide.
There are many reasons that can lead a person to take his or her own life. Among the main ones is: doctor Angie Reynosodoctor psychiatrist of @mentalmenterdmentions relationship problems, diseases of mental healthphysical health situations and economic problems.
While it is true that a high percentage of the population that commits a crime suicide suffers depressionthe professional clarifies that this is not always the case. There are other pathologies that constitute risk factors, such as disorders anxious, schizophrenia and disorders due to substance abuse. There are also those who do not suffer from any mental illness and commit suicide impulsively due to a fit of anger.
“Regardless of the presence of a mental illness, for suicidal thoughts to occur the interaction of the following factors must occur: a suffering intense, a lack of psychological resources to cope with it and a hopelessness deep anxiety about the future, accompanied by the perception of death as the only way out,” explains Reynoso.
Regarding the date, we spoke with the psychiatrist to know the signs of alert of the suicidewhat to do if we identify them and where to look aid in the country.
He suicide It remains a taboo subject. Why?
Yes, it is unfortunate, because this contributes to stigma social as lack of awareness remains a major barrier to seeking aidwhich highlights the need for literacy in mental health and campaigns to overthrow this stigma.
He suicide It continues to be a taboo subject because historically talking about death has always been a forbidden topic, and being the suicide a type of death caused by oneself with the precise intention of ending one’s own life, talking about it will always have many edges.
It is also important to know that all those who are around a person who commits a suicide are survivors and are left with a negative emotional scar, because they feel guilty for not having been able to prevent this fatal outcome. Suicidal acts are often considered shameful or acts of weakness.
“Suicide remains a taboo subject because historically speaking about death has always been a forbidden topic.”Psychiatrist
What are the myths about the suicide what else is repeated?
Because the proper procedure is not carried out awareness to the general population there are various mythsamong the most common we have:
- Those who speak of suicide They don’t mean to do it, it’s just to get attention. The reality is that these people may be asking for it like this aid or support. A significant number of people who have ideas suicide They have anxiety, depressionpsychotic disorder, among others.
- Most suicides happen suddenly, impulsively, without warning. Most cases have been preceded by verbal or behavioural warning signs. Of course, some suicides are committed without warning, impulsively. An example of this is when the act is carried out under the influence of some substance. But it is important to know the warning signs and keep them in mind.
- He suicide he is determined to die, there is nothing to be done. It is ambivalent, because it wants to die if its life continues in the same way. However, it wants to live if small changes occur in its life. Access to emotional support at the right time can prevent the suicide.
- The media cannot contribute to the prevention of the suicide. The media can become a valuable ally in the preventionbecause they are consumed en masse by the population, carrying out campaigns to raise awareness on this issue.
- Whoever has tried to commit suicide will always try again. The greatest risk of suicide It is usually short-term and situation-specific. Although suicidal thoughts may return, they are not permanent, and someone who has had suicidal thoughts and attempts can lead a long life afterwards.
- Only people with disorders mentally ill are suicidal. Many people living with disorders Mental illnesses are not affected by suicidal thoughts and not all people who take their own lives have a mental disorder.
- Talk about it suicide is to stimulate the idea. Given the stigma widespread around this topic, most people who contemplate taking their own lives do not know who to talk to. Instead of encouraging the behavior suicidetalking openly can give a person other options or time to reflect on their decision, thus preventing suicide.
- He who tries the suicide He is a coward. They are not cowards, but people who suffer.
Is there a profile of suicide?
No, there is currently no profile in which we can pigeonhole all or most of the people who commit suicidebut there are certain risk factors that make a person more likely to commit this act, among these we have:
- A recent or serious loss.
- A psychiatric disorder, particularly a depressive disorder.
- Attempt to suicide former.
- Family history of suicide.
- Lack of social support.
In addition, there are certain signs alarm that can make us think about a behavior suicidewhich is why it is vitally important to be able to know them in order to be aware of these indicators:
- Talk about the suicideor express phrases like “I wish I had never been born,” “I wish I were dead.”
- Try to obtain means to make the suicidesuch as pills, firearms, among others.
- Extreme withdrawal.
- Mood swings.
- Concern about death.
- Feeling helpless and hopelessness in the face of a situation.
- Alcohol and drug abuse.
- Changes in the normal routine.
- Doing destructive and reckless things.
- Saying goodbye to people as if it were final.
By identifying those behaviors in a person, what can we do?
Identify behaviors Suicide in a family member, friend or even in oneself, is a serious situation, which requires a intervention careful and appropriate. The most important thing is to show empathy for the situation, to converse in an affectionate and active listening attitude and to suggest that aid from a professional of the mental health.
It is also important to inform family members so that the person with thoughts suicide is under supervision constant, restricted from those means or methods that could be used to attempt to take his or her life. The person must be psychoeducated about his or her situation and given tools to deal with suicidal thoughts.
Contrary to popular belief, asking openly does not increase the risk of suicide and can open a door for the person to express themselves about their feelingsHowever, questioning the motive should be done without judging or invalidating, since the situation, no matter how minor it may seem to us, is important to the person.
The person should also avoid consuming alcohol or any type of drugbecause it can happen that when you are ambivalent you use substances as a form of push to carry out the act suicide.
Where to look aid in the country?
In our country we have private centers of mental health where psychological and psychiatric consultations are offered at low cost. In addition, we have free psychological help offered by the department of Mental Health of the Ministry of Public Health that has the information line available on the depression at 809-544-4223 and the Cuida tu contact center Mental Health at 809-200-1400.
We also have units of intervention in crisis distributed in most hospitals in the national territory to provide responses to these patients.
It is vitally important that, in the presence of ideation suicidelet’s know the options preventive that we have and that can prevent catastrophic outcomes.
