Juan, wakes up on Saturday with a different mood, not the one he had been carrying for months (even years). That Saturday he woke up relieved, calm, even happy, because he had already made the decision: HOW, WHERE AND WHEN he was going to end his life.
Juan lives alone, he does not have a partner or children, he has a job that allows him to make ends meet, but lately he had more absenteeism than presenteeism, due to his psychiatric pathology: Major Depressive Disorder. He underwent multiple psychiatric and psychological treatments, with partial improvements. On some occasions he was admitted to psychiatric institutions for repeated suicide attempts.
Juan got up relieved because he had already made the decision on how to kill himself, and that happens very frequently in people who decide to take their own lives. Sometimes we psychiatrists see that the “patient improves abruptly” and the suicidal ideas disappear. When a symptom of improvement in Mental Health suddenly appears, professionals must be with our five senses more than ever, since improvements are usually gradual.
Etymologically, the word suicide comes from “SUI” which means “oneself” and “CIDIUM” which means “to kill”.
More than 703,000 people take their lives after numerous suicide attempts, which corresponds to one death every forty seconds.
Suicide has different phases, such as:
- SUICIDE IDEATION: it is the most important indicator of suicide, it refers to the very existence of the idea. It is the conscious manifestation of thinking or wishing to die.
- SUICIDE THREAT: presence of manifestations or exclamations about the desire to die.
- SUICIDE PLAN: structuring the HOW, WHEN AND WHERE, without going into action.
- DELIBERATE ACT OF DYING: manifestation of the voluntary behavior of taking one’s own life; This is done consciously, and the person knows the results that will be obtained. In other words, he knows that the behavior he is going to carry out can end his life.
- COMPLETED SUICIDE: act of self-destruction where the individual ends his or her life.
There are certain risk factors to take into account when evaluating a potentially suicidal person, they are:
- Diagnosis of physical or mental illness
- Recent discharge from psychiatric hospitalization
- Problematic consumption and/or addiction to alcohol and psychoactive drugs
- Poor evolution of chronic diseases or poor adherence to treatment
- History of suicidal ideation or attempts
- History of highly lethal suicide attempts (firearms, hanging, jumping from a height or onto train tracks)
- Feelings of failure, helplessness, hopelessness, ruin, bleak future
- Impulsivity and aggressiveness, low tolerance for frustration
- Negative life events (deaths, separation, separation from work, legal problems)
- Unemployment
- Absence or loss of support network, social isolation
- Difficulty accessing health or social care services
It is extremely important to talk to the patient about these types of ideas. Asking the patient if he has a desire to die or kill himself does NOT increase the risk, quite the opposite; Effective therapeutic measures can be taken to reduce and abolish these ideas.
If you are worried about someone or need support, you are not alone. You can ask for help from your friends, your family, at the health center closest to your home, at the hospital, at school, at your neighborhood club, or at the church. And never underestimate someone who talks about suicide.
Asking for help when you need it is an act of bravery and courage. Mental Health professionals can help you. In any area, whether public or private, anywhere in the world.
Do not hesitate to contact the Suicide Assistance Center at 0800 345 1435, which operates 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
We prevent suicide together.
DR. IVANNA MELONI CAFARELLI – MN129.301
PSYCHIATRIC PHYSICIAN
ESP. IN ANXIETY DISORDERS
NEUROSCIENCES AND HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORTS
Htal. Pirovano
Scientific Secretary of the APSA Anxiety Disorders Chapter
If you need professional help, you can contact Dr:
IG: @dra.ivanameloni
www.doctorameloni.com/
by CEDOC