Mental Health] SUICIDE: Identifying The Signs of Suicidal Behaviors and prevention
Suicide in a simple definition is taking of one’s life by oneself intentionally.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death globally especially in the western world reports of suicide cases are more and often heard. It is estimated that in America, 200,000 death is linked to Suicide per year talk more of the rest of the world and as we know, official cases were reported and not the actual figures as it far exceeds what the public are made to know. In Nigeria, only in 2022 we had a fewer number of suicide cases.
Reasons why people intentionally take their own lives varies and in this article we would be discussing some of the factors and how we could identity and be of help to the signs of suicide thereby preventing some from occuring.
Of course we should be responsible for one another’s safety and well-being in our own little ways. Putting negligence aside would save us a lot of havocs in the society.
It is pertinent and
imperative to pay close attention to actions and reactions of some people as one can not separate the mental state of an individual from his actions and reactions, how they exhibit attitudes as regards any situation. Being defiant, adamant and reluctance to the actions and moods of our neighbors and family members are not healthy to all of us in the society. We need to pay rapt attention to strange statements and behaviors of people around us and within the neighborhood through which we would be saving a lot of lives and sensitizing the members of the society.
Before I go further discussing suicidal behavioral signs, there is need for us to understand the types of Suicide first.
*Types And Causes Of Suicide*
Outlined below are the major types of suicide:
1. Egoistic Suicide: Ego is one the causes of suicide. This type of suicide happen when an individual feels ostracized from society, lacks social connections and feels isolated. This is common amongst the elderly, widowed, and those suffering from chronic depression.
2. Altruistic Suicide: This type of suicide occurs when an individual feels an obligation to die for a course or purpose. This is observed in soldiers who endanger their lives for a course and purpose of the country. Other set in this category are members of extremist organizations like Boko Haram suicide bombers and others.
3. Anomic Suicide: Anomie or anomy as is both spelt is a personal state of isolation and anxiety as a result of lack of social control and regulations or due to moral decadence in the society. This type of suicide occur when environment and social norms become unstable, leading to confusion. Example of this types of suicide is the young man of Northern Nigeria who hung himself immediately after the declaration of results of the 2023 Nigeria general election because he believed it was rigged by the inec. People who experience sudden financial loss too and decide to take their own lives fall in this category as well. Unbearable Pressures from huge debts which leads some to thinking suicide is another example in this class.
4. Fatalistic Suicide: This type of suicide arises when an individual feels trapped and helpless in an oppressive environment, leading to a sense of hopelessness. Example of this is seen in people who have experienced long-term imprisonment, torture and severe emotional distress.
5. Imitative suicide: This type of suicide also known as copycat just as the name implies, occurs when an individual copies or mimics the suicide of someone else in their social circle. This is often observed in communities among adolescents and young adults.
To help this set of people we need to understand the signs of behaviors noticed in those who are contemplating suicide. Without the knowledge of the behavioral signs we may not be able to render any help.
*Signs of suicidal behaviors*
1. Suicidal Threat: Is any self-directed actions taken by the individual which takes place before actual attempt to suicide. Usually you hear them saying or making statements like; “I can no longer bear this any more,” “take care of my family” and “will you miss and remember me when I am gone?” This means that the person cannot figure out what next to do but thinking suicide.
2. Suicide Gesture: this is like a cry for help, the think of who could help and stop them from taking the final decision of ending their lives on their own, they usually put calls through to some people they feel may show some concern. They carefully look for a means they could be rescued from suicide attempt.
3. Suicide Attempt: this includes the ways and medium in which the person wish to end their lives, the consider over dosage of drugs, hanging with ropes, jumping to a river, taking poison and so on. They don’t just commit suicide automatic. They gradually rehearse it in privacy before finally attempting it and eventually dying by suicide ends it. All the actions towards himself which could lead to death if not interrupted.
4. Died by suicide: they become fond of enlisting the people who died by suicide and how they are not better than them. These and more are the suicidal behavioral warnings we need to watch out for.
Personal losses and depressions are major caused of suicide like the loss of loved ones, ending personal relationship or difficult relationships etc.
Most suicidal people are undecided whether to live or die and that is why we need to be understanding and talking to them about their feelings could relieve them knowing that you understand they are in difficulty of emotions. Let us be more concerned about our fellows’ mental health.
*psychological Symptoms of a potential Suicide*
Most people who commits suicide first give clues that they are going through serious difficult times which are related to emotions. Many rough situations around one give them serious mental stress.
Look out for the for the following psychological Symptoms though not peculiar or limited to potential suicide;
1. Depressed mood
2. Blank, old or sad facial expressions
3. Always feeling low and gloomy
4. Obvious self reproach and depreciation
5. Tearful and trembling and
6. Abuse of substance like alcohol and other hard drugs especially by those who are not known for such a lifestyle of habitual drunks.
These can also influence their work pace without apparent reasons and interest in work would be lost. Person and social changes is inevitable and certainly family challenges sets in as attitudes toward the family life could be affected in the negative.
Of course some persons may not make statements suggesting that they are planning suicide but through actions an observant, caring and well meaning fellow can find out something is no longer in the right direction. Actions like organizing personal and business matters like he is traveling for a long time is seen in suicidal person. Others plan their funerals after the death of a loved ones, resign from social clubs or church groups they belong to, crying for no obvious reasons in days before the suicide occur and some write suicide notes.
Attempted suicide is the strongest behavioral warnings and most times could be very deceptive as they appear to be very happy. Not that they are really happy but because they have decided and concluded in ending it all gives them kind of relief from the depression or whatever reason making them take their own lives. Before I draw the curtain, let me quickly highlight on the management of potential suicide.
*Management/Prevention For Potential Suicide*
The following points could go a long way in preventing a suicidal person from committing the act which I believe when fully recovers might remain grateful ever for your help in times of great need such as the one he needed at the time suicide was his last option.
1. Communication: communicating with the person portrays that you care about him and that would make him or her have a rethink.
2. Assurance of help: Assuring the person that help is available and you will ensure to assist in getting the help is another antidote for suicidal attempt.
3. Being very friendly and understanding also help a great deal because humans are more open and adherence to anybody who understands their plights. Have you ever been in a situation where you are so bitter and many people around seem not to understand, the moment you see someone who understands your pains and reason for your actions gives you a big relief and can relate with such a person wholeheartedly. You automatically make a friend with such one and reach out from time to time as the only one who understands what you are passing through.
All these can be easy if we care about one another and what people are going through. They say, prevention is better than cure.
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