Working Together to Prevent Suicide

At least once in a week, we tend to hear this word. Let it be a famous celebrity or a poor farmer, this word creates some amount of eagerness and anxiety in most of us. Every year suicide is among the top 20 leading causes of death globally. One suicide happens every 40 seconds worldwide. For every completed suicide, 25 people make a suicide attempt.

Suicide is the result of a convergence of genetic, psychological, social and cultural factors, sometimes combined with experiences of trauma and loss. These varied reasons pose challenges for suicide prevention. Suicide prevention requires integrative strategies at individual, system and community levels. So, the theme for suicide prevention is “WORKING TOGETHER TO PREVENT SUICIDE”.

Let us see certain things which are commonly misperceived by the society. The main motto of this article is just to have a better knowledge of what makes them decide to commit self-harm, to reduce the stigma associated with it and most importantly, we might save someone.

Let’s see the most common statements made after we hear such news

• He/She should not have committed suicide
• He has everything, money, fame, all the luxuries – no point in attempting on life
• He is a weak-minded person. So, he committed
• He/She should have fought with the problems – who does not have issues in this world?
• He attempted for such a trivial issue

Haven’t we heard these statements?

 Now let us see certain facts about self-harm or suicide.

Myth 1: All the people who commit suicide are depressed

Fact: Most of the suicide attempts are impulsive in nature. If the person is stopped for a few minutes, that thought might fade away.

Myth 2: People with a lot of money, fame and luxuries need not commit suicide

Fact: This thought can creep into anyone’s mind irrespective of their social status. We see many affluent people attempting on their lives.

Myth 3: Ideas of self-harm happens only due to social factors like a failure in exams or relationship issues

Fact: Though some amount of stress precipitates suicidal thoughts, few biological factors also play a key role whether an individual takes such a decision. This is one of the reasons why all the people who fail do not attempt suicide.

Myth 4: Only weak-minded people attempt

Fact: There is nothing like a weak mind or a strong mind. Adolf Hitler who had a very strong and stubborn thoughts also succumbed to the same.

Myth 5: He/She attempted for such a trivial issue

Fact: It can be a trivial matter for us, but not for the person who attempted. Probably he/she might have crossed many worse scenarios than most of us.

Summary

Let us not simply pass comments on the people who attempted on their lives. They must have gone through more hardships and turmoil which we are completely unaware of. Let us not judge them that they have made an unnecessary attempt. We can never stand in their shoes to see the world they have seen.

Can we do something about this?

Yes!

Most of the people give some warning signs.

It could be.

• A letter or a simple phone call expressing their last wish
• Feelings of unworthiness, unfit to live
• Expressing thoughts about their family after they passaway
• Loss of interest in daily activities
• Avoiding friends
• Excess alcohol intake, smoking or any other drug use
• Regular absenteeism
• Frequent anger and crying spells

If you find any above symptoms in any of your friends or colleagues, never ignore or just say “it’s just a small thing to be worried about”. Do not judge them. Listen to them. Do not hesitate to seek professional help. If we do not take a step, it might cost their LIFE.

Dr Lokesh Kumar K
MBBS, MD (Psychiatry)
Consultant Psychiatrist
OMNI Hospitals, Kukatpally