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World suicide Prevention day; How can family, friends, governments help?

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World suicide Prevention day; How can family, friends, governments help?


World suicide preventation day; How can family, friends, governments help?

https://nation.com.pk/NewsSource/haber
Anadolu
September 10, 2021


While lives are lost every day due to feelings of helplessness in the face of mental and physical pain, depression, abuse/mistreatment, financial woes, as well as alcohol or drug abuse, there are ways the social circles of people in distress as well as governments can help prevent suicide, specialists said.

Citing World Health Organization (WHO) data, Turkish psychological counselor Secim Buyukcatalbas told Anadolu Agency that 800,000 people on average end their lives every year, or about one every 40 seconds, with one out of every 25 suicide attempts resulting in death.

The WHO’s 2003 declaration of Sept. 10 as World Suicide Prevention Day was a significant step to raise awareness of suicide, she said, adding that in the years since such elements as comprehensive training, brochures, and short films have bolstered efforts.

Loneliness, which is both a risk and a triggering factor for suicide, can be accompanied by mental disorders, substance abuse, and to a degree, genetic factors, said Hatice Demirbas, the head of the Psychology Department of Haci Bayram Veli University in the Turkish capital Ankara.

While problem-solving skills are passed down through families and so suicidal tendencies have a gene-based factor, this does not mean people with such genes definitely have a tendency towards suicide, or that those who lack them do not, she said.

Demirbas underlined that as a complex process, suicide does not result from just one reason, but that a combination of various risk factors, triggers, and living conditions play a role in the process.

Individuals have different levels of mental pain thresholds, coping mechanisms, and different personalities, including susceptibility to loneliness, helplessness, and happiness.

The most common reasons that entail a tendency for suicide include the loss of a loved one, she explained, whether through death, the end of a relationship, imprisonment, or the like.


Noting that the 19-25 age group sees the highest suicide rate, Demirbas highlighted that suicide attempts by men result in more deaths. This may mean that while generally men commit suicide to die, women may see it as a subtle way to voice their need for help, she said.

Especially simultaneous mental disorders, she added, neuro-biological factors, traumas, access to firearms, serious medical diseases, alcohol and substance use, and personality disorders can all play a role in the tendency to suicidal thoughts.

But she added that these risk factors vary greatly depending on individual differences such as age, socioeconomic status, and level of education.

Elif Suna Ozbay, a clinical psychologist based in Ankara, said people with suicidal tendencies may mention "being a burden" on other people, or "feeling stuck." They might feel unbearable pain, or that they have no reason to live. They may also imply a desire to take their lives.

"You may notice use of alcohol or substances, or an increase in their use. They may have no interest in the activities they did before. They can isolate themselves from their family and friends. Hypersomnia or insomnia, differences in their appetites may also be an indication," she said.

Ozbay added that an increase in moods of depression, anger, humiliation, or anxiety can often be observed as well.

Buyukcatalbas said a person might be silently calling out for help if they talk about death more than usual, isolate themselves, look out of their routine or daily appearance, take serious risks in life (for instance, high alcohol intake, driving dangerously), say they are in deep desperation, or describe life as pointless.

Ozbay said the first thing a person should do is to suggest getting professional help, including suicide hotlines.
On the personal level, the most important thing is listening to the person carefully, she says. "You need to make them feel understood. Listening without judgment and reminding them that their situation can be fixed is a favorable approach," she explained.

"We should not judge what they are experiencing, and we definitely should not underestimate. Saying things 'I've gone through that too,' 'It is not a big deal,' 'It will pass,' are not suggested. Likewise, we should not tell them suicide is a sin, ignore their problems, or wait without doing anything," she continued. "We need to remind them that help is always accessible."

Noting that usually encouragement to get professional help is usually turned down, Buyukcatalbas recommended telling a family member of the person with suicidal thoughts about the problem, stressing that it is very important for them not to be alone.

"It is unlikely you can convince a person in the depths of desperation to take part in social life. Sitting near them even without talking will have a healing power instead of forcing them to attend an event," she suggested.

Buyukcatalbas further underlined the importance of keeping firearms and chemical substances away from people with suicidal tendencies. "However," she said, "these precautions should not be done in an obtrusive manner. Abruptly installing window bars may cause further despair, making them feel as if you’ve given up on them."

She pointed to the importance of unconditional love and acceptance regardless of the situation. "The most significant factor that relieves them of suicidal thoughts is the feeling of acceptance. Their lives will not be intolerable once they realize they are cared for by at least one person," Buyukcatalbas added.

Recommending participation in group therapy, she said that meeting other people who share the same pain as them, and feeling their support, can help heal a person with a tendency to suicide.

Demirbas said that to bring down suicide rates, governments should require lessons on improving problem-solving skills starting in elementary school.

The owning of personal firearms should be restricted under the law, she added.

Citing a period in Vienna, Austria in the mid-1980s which saw a sharp rise in “railway suicides” after extensive media coverage of such cases, Demirbas said the way the media presents news about suicides has a critical impact. "The law should prohibit news from telling the method of committing suicide, and all practices that normalize the perception of suicide should be forbidden," she said.

Ozbay argued that children should be taught in school that having mental disorders is as normal and as common as other illnesses, also stressing that access to mental health professionals should be made easier and more affordable, as it is costly and not covered by health insurance in many countries.

Demirbas underlined that faith is an important factor in the prevention of suicide. "Suicide is forbidden in all religions," she said. "So regardless of what belief or which religion they believe in, faith usually is a good way out of suicidal thoughts."

Similarly, Buyukcatalbas said that in most religions an individual who thinks about committing suicide has to fight the fear of becoming a sinner.

She said that familial responsibilities are another important factor that keeps a person away from suicidal thoughts.

"Being a parent, or having parents in need, thinking what will happen to the pet they leave behind are among the responsibilities that deter the person from committing suicide," she said.

"It is hard, but you are not alone." Buyukcatalbas remarked. "Life can be complicated, but living with this complexity is possible."

Ozbay said there is a way to fix everything, and added: "Maybe we should not take life so seriously."

"Suicide may seem to be a solution in the face of helplessness, but it isn’t," said Demirbas. "All problems have alternative solutions; you can always ask for help if you can't find an alternative."

"We are social beings, and interaction is of vital importance for us. There definitely are people around us who can help us, find a solution for problems in our lives. We shouldn't be afraid to talk, to ask for help," she explained.
 
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Ozbay argued that children should be taught in school that having mental disorders is as normal and as common as other illnesses

This is a wrong advise in socio-economic suicides. In Capitalist countries such as India, USA and China people commit suicide because of the wrong socio-economic system in the country that is maintained by a wrong political system.

Those 300,000+ Indian farmers who committed suicide between 1995 and 2015 were not afflicted with some medically curable "mental disorder". They were victims of India's 3000-year-old extremely Capitalist system. And since their families did not question that wrong socio-economic system and speak of rebelling and changing it they either were unable to help the one who committed suicide or were too selfish to do so.

The Indian Capitalist, unscientific, highly competitive employment system where one has to earn money just to survive, be a long-term wage slave and attain things like food, housing and education, is the reason why pre-employment students commit suicide because of their parents forcing them to score high marks in exams to get into "prestigious colleges" or force them to be in courses because they are high-paying despite the children's disinterest in that field, is also why some students commit suicide. Readers should google for the Indian town called Kota which has pre-college "coaching institutes" and is notorious for student suicides.

So psychologists and psychiatrists should shut up and think about the wrong socio-economic system that surrounds them and participate in changing their society instead of blaming the person who wants to commit suicide, by blaming the desire on "mental illness" and genetic factor.

Such realizations will be the best remembrance for World Suicide Prevention Day.
 
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Recently I was suicidal. I have serious depression. I wanted to take my life. I searched many quick and painless ways to kill myself. I found out that insulin overdose is the painless way but death is not guaranteed. You can damage your brain permanently instead of dying. So I was scared to try it out.

I recently got viral Dengue fever. My blood platelet dropped to 20,000 count which is dangerously low. I was happy that finally God was listening to me. I wanted a natural death quickly and getting severe Dengue is not suicide but unfortunately or fortunately my family didn't let me stay at home. They rushed me to hospital forcefully. I was given platelet transfusion by one of my relative.

If I just refused to go to hospital I might have serious internal bleeding which might have caused death in few hours but I survived this time.

I am recovering at home now but I still have suicidal feeling. Suicide is stupidity but I can understand why people take their life. Sometime life just sucks. Even religious preaching can't help you. You just want to get relieve from pain.
 
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Recently I was suicidal. I have serious depression. I wanted to take my life. I searched many quick and painless ways to kill myself. I found out that insulin overdose is the painless way but death is not guaranteed. You can damage your brain permanently instead of dying. So I was scared to try it out.

I recently got viral Dengue fever. My blood platelet dropped to 20,000 count which is dangerously low. I was happy that finally God was listening to me. I wanted a natural death quickly and getting severe Dengue is not suicide but unfortunately or fortunately my family didn't let me stay at home. They rushed me to hospital forcefully. I was given platelet transfusion by one of my relative.

If I just refused to go to hospital I might have serious internal bleeding which might have caused death in few hours but I survived this time.

I am recovering at home now but I still have suicidal feeling. Suicide is stupidity but I can understand why people take their life. Sometime life just sucks. Even religious preaching can't help you. You just want to get relieve from pain.

Please don't. But why were you suicidal ?
 
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Please don't. But why were you suicidal ?

Family burden. I am in a situation where I have to do everything alone because there is no one to help me. I lost my father, all my paternal , maternal uncles, aunties to critical diseases. They all died at young age. I have no elderly guardian left who can give me advice. I am young in my 20's. I recently lost my father to cancer. I lost my good job to covid after serving for 4 years. I am unemployed since last 6 month. I have a younger brother who is very sick due to an incurable mental illness. He needs regular injection. My mother is a critical diabetic patient who needs daily insulin injection to survive. If one day insulin is missed it will be fatal. I am now searching another job but job market is tough at present due to covid situation. So few job advertisement.

I am in my late 20's. I never faced such a bad phase in my life. Financially I am facing very tough time. I am just suicidal because of family burden. At times I think what will happen to my mother and brother if I leave the world but my condition is just not improving. I am not afraid of afterlife. I am afraid of the situation my mother and brother will face if I die. That's why I am not commiting suicide yet.

Passing time on internet to forget my depression.
 
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I am in my late 20's. I never faced such a bad phase in my life. Financially I am facing very tough time. I am just just suicidal because of family burden.
Brother do not lose hope.in our religion disappointment is a sin and suicide is haram.Life is a precious gift of GOD.Remember how tough situation our Prophet s.a.w faced.He lost his parents in His early life ,faced brutality of Quresh, yet not only He survived but also changed the course of history.You are young one.Circumstances can never beat a man until he has hope.Have faith in God and your abilities and stay strong my friend stay strong.
 
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Brother do not lose hope.in our religion disappointment is a sin and suicide is haram.Life is a precious gift of GOD.Remember how tough situation our Prophet s.a.w faced.He lost his parents in His early life ,faced brutality of Quresh, yet not only He survived but also changed the course of history.You are young one.Circumstances can never beat a man until he has hope.Have faith in God and your abilities and stay strong my friend stay strong.

I am not very religious person. I pray occasionally. Non practicing Muslim.

When a person is suicidal only therapy can help. No religious preaching is effective because suicidal person wants to stop his pain and suffering any how.

Life is so tough. I am facing it everyday. I even searched ways to kill myself painlessly.

Hanging is very painful. You feel intense pain when you break you neck by hanging and you might not die instantly. A slow and agonising death. It needs professional training to be pro at hanging and ensure death quickly.

Sleeping pills won't work. You will be left with neurological damage to your brain if you take too many pills. No death instantly. Only few people people die of sleeping pill overdose.

So what is left for painless death? Nothing is effective.

Insulin overdose does work but rarely. Most certainly you will be left with severe damaged brain for life but no death.

Human body is unique. It does not want to die. If you ingest something toxic it will vomit it out.

Suicide needs courage. Those like me who search for painless ways can't commit suicide because of lack of courage.
 
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@Riyad

Let us know how we can be of any help.

On a personal note i would like to apologise if any of my interactions with you left you with a bad taste.
 
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Family burden. I am in a situation where I have to do everything alone because there is no one to help me. I lost my father, all my paternal , maternal uncles, aunties to critical diseases. They all died at young age. I have no elderly guardian left who can give me advice. I am young in my 20's. I recently lost my father to cancer. I lost my good job to covid after serving for 4 years. I am unemployed since last 6 month. I have a younger brother who is very sick due to an incurable mental illness. He needs regular injection. My mother is a critical diabetic patient who needs daily insulin injection to survive. If one day insulin is missed it will be fatal. I am now searching another job but job market is tough at present due to covid situation. So few job advertisement.

I am in my late 20's. I never faced such a bad phase in my life. Financially I am facing very tough time. I am just suicidal because of family burden. At times I think what will happen to my mother and brother if I leave the world but my condition is just not improving. I am not afraid of afterlife. I am afraid of the situation my mother and brother will face if I die. That's why I am not commiting suicide yet.

Passing time on internet to forget my depression.

Firstly, I agree with @Muhammad Saftain Anjum in post# 6.

Secondly, some of the situation you described are socio-economic problems which were not decreed by Nature or God but exist because of the wrong socio-economic system in which there is no free healthcare system and one has to be wage slave to survive. It happens in many parts of the world. You may get a job in the next 15 days or the next two months but if you don't do anything such a wrong system will exist until you die and the system will oppress you in small ways and big ways. A psychiatrist or psychologist will give you only short-term advise but will not change the surrounding wrong socio-economic system which enable some of the issues in the first place. Since you suffer you also have to work towards the solution so I will urge you to join the Communist Party of Bangladesh whose ideology, as with other leftist movements everywhere, is to realize a harmonious society without unnecessary sufferings. Various people around the world in history have tried such experiments and succeeded to various levels. You should join them and work with them but also advise them if you get ideas. A much progressive Bangladesh may not be realized in the next two years but may come about in the next ten years. The world is becoming a small place and my belief is that with emergence of the space industry the progressive ideas among humanity will affect every society and primary among these ideas will be Communism which will take center stage within the next 10 to 15 years. If you ask what are the simple desires of Communism below is Google result for "Communism" :
Communism is a philosophical, social, political and economic ideology and movement whose ultimate goal is the establishment of a communist society, namely a socioeconomic order structured upon the ideas of common ownership of the means of production and the absence of social classes, money and the state. Wikipedia
In pre-2011 Libya which was a Socialist society ( which could have become Communist at some point ) people had free healthcare, free education etc and they did not have to slog it out being a wage slave to survive. If Bangladesh had been like that you wouldn't have faced some of the problems you face now. So please join the CPB towards your own salvation. Side effect will be that working with these educated people and thinking about your country's welfare your suicidal thoughts will also disappear.
 
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A logical mind will always confront with the question " What is the purpose of life and why I should live "
Everyone should live with it and die with it ..If people are religious(far away from being logical) then they have ready-made answer from their respective books ..
 
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