Suicide is a specific model of behavior and mental activity, the goal of which is voluntary self-destruction. Suicidal tendencies have some subjective moral background: an attempt to escape from an intolerable situation or illness, a manifestation of frolic auto-aggression as a result of low self-esteem, a request for help.
In the latter case, the suicide attempt looks demonstrative and theatrical and almost never comes to the end, being only a way to attract attention to oneself. Suicide can also be committed based on other purely subjective attitudes of a moral, social, philosophical or religious nature.
Causes of suicidal behavior
Most often, the causes of suicidal behavior are hidden in serious mental disorders. Patients with schizophrenia, delirium or dementia, various kinds of psychoses and psychopathy may strive to commit suicide. Various external factors can also be provoking factors, for example, a recent divorce or death of a loved one, depressing loneliness, an incurable somatic illness, lack of a family circle.
There are a number of social groups that suffer from various risk factors that provoke such behavior. These could be people addicted to alcoholism or drugs, teenagers experiencing feelings of frustration or unrequited love, individuals subjected to constant attacks and humiliation. Risk factors also include a tendency to deviant behavior or excessive self-criticism.
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Signs of suicidal tendencies
There are statistics according to which suicide attempts are registered six times more often than completed suicides. Signs of suicidal tendencies are often barely noticeable, consisting of subtle and light hints of suicide, thoughts on the topic of death.
Suicidal tendencies can be identified during a conversation with the patient. Such people often express some ambivalence in their feelings. They are in despair and at the same time express hope for help and salvation. Quite often, in the minds of such a person, the pros and cons of committing suicide seem to be balanced, so the help and support of loved ones can play a decisive role.
Signs of an impending suicide attempt may be aggressive or auto-aggressive behavior, public censure by the subject of himself and his actions, and the presence of previous suicide attempts. In this case, changes in the behavior and character of a person may be observed, which, as a rule, are expressed in extremes. For example, someone contemplating suicide may refuse to eat or, conversely, become gluttonous.
Other disorders follow the same principle: constant wakefulness or insomnia, a constant feeling of insignificance, a feeling of dissatisfaction with one’s past, boredom, suffering from loneliness or a desire to remain isolated.
Such a person can be demonstrably cheerful. Before attempting to commit suicide, he may often joke about suicide and maintain constant conversations on the topic of death. Complaints about life, promises to “not be a burden to anyone anymore” or that “everything will be fine soon” often appear. Such phrases and vague hints are often harbingers of imminent suicide.
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Signs of suicidal behavior and ways to prevent it - Institution "Kruglyanskiy RCSON"
Figures and facts
• Most suicide attempts are made when a person is temporarily depressed and may never happen again. • Three times more women than men attempt suicide, but four times more men than women kill themselves. This is due to the fact that men are more likely to try to kill themselves with firearms. Firearms are predominantly a “male” way of reckoning with life. • Every 8 out of 10 potential suicides receive advance warning about suicide. Therefore, a person who threatens to commit suicide must be taken seriously. • There are many more elderly people at risk of suicide than teenagers. The highest rates of suicide occur in the spring. This is believed to be due to changes in natural light levels. • One in three deaths is due to alcoholism. Suicide rates are highest in rich countries. For example, Latin America and Brazil have the lowest rates, while Russia, Japan and France have some of the highest. Only 1 in 20 suicide attempts are successful. • Suicides peak on Monday, the most stressful day for most people.
11 signs of suicidal behavior
Loss of previously characteristic energy
- usually manifests itself as a constant feeling of boredom and fatigue.
Prolonged sleep and appetite disturbances.
A person is haunted by terrible dreams; pictures of cataclysms, catastrophes, accidents with the death of people or one’s own death or ominous animals are possible.
It is also possible to have a disturbance in appetite or a complete absence of it. Excessive self-criticism or constant feelings of guilt.
It can also manifest itself as a pronounced feeling of failure, shame, and self-doubt.
Also, this syndrome can be masked under deliberate bravado, defiant behavior, and insolence. Fear, anxiety and aggression.
Depression manifests itself both in melancholy and in restlessness, insomnia, and anxiety that were previously unusual for a person.
It is this type of depression that more often leads to suicide, because the nervous system is constantly tense, and the person “gets tired of living.” Long-term health problems.
Loss of health and independence, vision and hearing problems can lead people to think about ending their suffering.
Depression
is the surest companion of suicidal behavior.
The stronger the depression, the harder it is to see the light in life and find reasons to live. In a state of depression, the risk of death actually increases 20 times! Clear signs of depression are a sad mood, despondency, loss of interest in previous hobbies, or, conversely, increased nervousness. A sudden change in mood
- literally in a second a person becomes joyful, as if a very cheerful thought had visited him.
Putting your affairs in order,
sudden interest in relatives whom you have not seen for a long time, checking on them.
Talking about suicide. The person often talks about this topic and shows too strong and constant interest in this topic. Transparent hints about the imminent end of one’s life, conversations about suicide; Phrases like “I would be better off in another world”, “I wish I wasn’t here.” Purchasing mutilation products is the most obvious sign. For example, having a gun increases the risk of suicide in the home by 10 times. Firearms account for 10% of all suicide attempts. Moreover, firearms are a “male” way of reckoning with life. IMPORTANT: Parents of depressed teenagers should review their website browsing history to look for information about suicide and, if found, immediately seek specialized help. Searching for information about suicide (on the Internet, in books, in the press, in cinema). Topics that interest a person are reflected in what surrounds him and what he is interested in. Take a closer look at what book a person reads, what films he watches, what websites he visits. It is important to pay attention to this if your loved one has been in a state of despondency for a long time. Use of alcohol or drugs. You should especially worry if the person was not previously prone to these addictions, and also if the state of drug intoxication allows the person to feel emotionally better. A previous suicide attempt or an example of suicide - for example, in close circles, especially from parents or friends. A family history of depression increases the likelihood that offspring will also suffer from it by 11%. Ways to prevent suicidal behavior 1. Look for clues to suicide. Help consists not only of the care and participation of friends, but also of the ability to recognize the signs of impending danger. Your knowledge of its principles and desire to have this information can save someone's life. By sharing them with others, you can help break down the myths and misconceptions that prevent many suicides from being prevented. Look for signs of possible danger, detect signs of helplessness and hopelessness, and determine whether the person is lonely and isolated. The more people who are aware of these warnings, the greater the chances of suicide disappearing from the list of leading causes of death. 2. Accept the suicidal person as a person. Allow for the possibility that the person is indeed suicidal. Do not assume that he is not capable and will not be able to decide to commit suicide. It is sometimes tempting to deny the possibility that anyone can stop a person from committing suicide. This is why thousands of people of all ages, races and social groups commit suicide. Don't let others mislead you into thinking that a particular suicidal situation is not serious. If you believe someone is at risk of suicide, act in accordance with your own beliefs. The danger that you will become confused by exaggerating a potential threat is nothing compared to the fact that someone may die because of your non-intervention. 3.Establish caring relationships. There are no comprehensive answers to a problem as serious as suicide. But you can take a giant step forward if you adopt a position of confident acceptance of a desperate person. In the future, a lot depends on the quality of your relationships. They should be expressed not only with words, but also with non-verbal empathy; In these circumstances, it is more appropriate not to moralize, but to support. Instead of suffering from self-judgment and other worries, an anxious person should try to understand his feelings. For a person who feels that he is worthless and unloved, the care and concern of a sympathetic person is a powerful encouragement. This is the best way to penetrate the isolated soul of a desperate person. 4. Be an attentive listener. Suicidal people especially suffer from a strong sense of alienation. Because of this, they may not be inclined to accept your advice. Much more they need to discuss their pain and what they say: “I have nothing worth living for.” If a person suffers from depression, then he needs to talk more to himself than to talk to him. Realizing that someone you care about is suicidal usually causes the caregiver to fear rejection, unwantedness, powerlessness, or uselessness. Despite this, remember that this person has difficulty focusing on anything other than his hopelessness. He wants to get rid of the pain, but cannot find a healing way out. If someone tells us they are thinking about suicide, don't judge them for saying it. Try to remain calm and understanding as much as possible. You might say, “I really appreciate your honesty because it takes a lot of courage for you to share your feelings right now.” You can be of great help by listening to the person's feelings, whether sadness, guilt, fear, or anger. Sometimes, if you just sit quietly with him, it is proof that you are interested and caring. Both psychologists and non-specialists must develop the art of “listening with the third ear.” This means penetration into what is “expressed” non-verbally: behavior, appetite, mood and facial expressions, movements, sleep disturbances, readiness for impulsive actions in an acute crisis situation . Although the main warning signs of suicide are often hidden, they can nevertheless be recognized by a receptive listener. 5. Don't argue. When faced with a suicidal threat, friends and relatives often respond: “Think about it, you live much better than other people; you should thank your fate.” This answer immediately blocks further discussion; Such remarks cause an already unhappy person to become even more depressed. By wanting to help in this way, loved ones contribute to the opposite effect. Another familiar remark can often be found: “Do you understand what misfortune and shame you will bring on your family?” But, perhaps, hidden behind it is precisely the thought that the suicide wants to carry out. Never become aggressive if you are present during a conversation about suicide, and try not to express shock at what you hear. When you enter into a discussion with a depressed person, you may not only lose the argument, but also lose him. 6. Ask questions. If you ask indirect questions such as: “I hope you are not contemplating suicide?”, then they imply the answer that you would like to hear. If a loved one, a person, answers: “No,” then you most likely will not be able to help resolve the suicidal crisis. The best way to intervene in a crisis is to thoughtfully ask a direct question: “Are you thinking about suicide?” It will not lead to such a thought if the person did not have it; on the contrary, when he contemplates suicide and finally finds someone who cares about his experiences and is willing to discuss this taboo topic, he often feels relieved and is given the opportunity to understand his feelings. You should calmly and clearly ask about the disturbing situation, for example: “Since when do you consider your life so hopeless? Why do you think you have these feelings? Do you have specific ideas about how to end your life? If you have thought about suicide before, what stopped you?” To help a suicidal person understand his thoughts, you can sometimes paraphrase, repeat his most significant answers: “In other words, you are saying...” Your agreement to listen and discuss what they want to share with you will be a great relief for a desperate person who is experiencing fear, that you will condemn him, and is ready to leave. 7. Don't offer undue reassurance. One of the important psychological defense mechanisms is rationalization. After hearing someone say they are suicidal, you may be tempted to say, “No, you don't really think so.” There is often no basis for these conclusions other than your personal anxiety. The reason why a suicidal person shares his thoughts is to create concern about his situation. If you do not show interest and responsiveness, the depressed person may consider a statement such as “You don’t really think so” as a sign of rejection and mistrust. If you conduct a conversation with love and care, it will significantly reduce the risk of suicide. Otherwise, he can be driven to suicide by banal consolations just when he desperately needs sincere, caring, frank participation in his fate. Suicidal people disdain remarks like, “It’s okay, it’s okay, everyone has problems like you,” and other similar clichés, because they stand in stark contrast to their torment. These conclusions only minimize, destroy their feelings and make them feel even more unnecessary and worthless. 8. Offer constructive approaches. Instead of telling the suicidal person: “Think about the pain your death will bring to your loved ones,” ask him to think about alternative solutions that may not have occurred to him yet. One of the most important goals of suicide prevention is to help identify the source of mental distress. This can be difficult because the breeding ground for suicide is secrecy. The most appropriate questions to stimulate discussion might be: “What has happened to you lately? When did you feel worse? What has happened in your life since these changes occurred? Which of those around them were they related to?” The potential suicide person should be encouraged to identify the problem and, as precisely as possible, determine what is aggravating it. A desperate person needs to be reassured that he can talk about feelings without embarrassment, even negative emotions such as hatred, bitterness or the desire for revenge. If the person is still hesitant to express his innermost feelings, then you may be able to prompt a response by noting: “I think you are very upset,” or: “But I think you are going to cry.” It also makes sense to say: “You are still excited. Maybe if you share your problems with me, I will try to understand you.” A current psychotraumatic situation may arise due to the breakdown of relationships with a spouse or children. The person may be suffering from unresolved grief or some physical illness. Therefore, all his feelings and troubles should be taken into account. If the crisis situation and emotions are expressed, then the next step is to find out how the person resolved similar situations in the past. This is called "evaluating the means available to solve the problem." It involves listening to a description of previous experiences in a similar situation. To initiate, you can ask the question: “Have you had similar experiences before?” There is a unique opportunity to collaboratively uncover ways in which a person has dealt with crisis in the past. They can be useful for resolving real conflict. Try to find out what remains, nevertheless, positively significant for the person. What else does he value? Notice signs of emotional excitement when it comes to the “best” time of his life, especially watch his eyes. What things that are meaningful to him are achievable? Who are the people who continue to worry him? And now that the life situation has been analyzed, have any alternatives arisen? Is there a ray of hope? 9. Instill hope. Working with self-destructive depressed people is serious and demanding. Psychotherapists have long found the value of focusing on what they are saying or feeling. When troubling hidden thoughts come to the surface, troubles seem less fatal and more solvable. A person tormented by anxiety may come to the thought: “I still don’t know how to resolve this situation. But now that my difficulties are clear, I see that perhaps there is still some hope.” Hope helps a person come out of preoccupation with thoughts of suicide. In recent history, an example is the behavior of the Jews during the Holocaust, when Hitler sought to completely exterminate them. Before 1940, the average monthly number of suicides was 71.2. In May of that year, immediately after the Nazi invasion, it increased to 371. People committed suicide out of fear of ending up in concentration camps. The Jews who did not escape this terrible fate initially retained faith in liberation or family reunification. As long as there was at least a spark of hope, relatively few suicides occurred. When the war began to seem endless and rumors began to reach about the Nazis’ reprisals against millions of people, suicides among camp prisoners took the form of epidemics. The loss of hope for a decent future is reflected in the notes left by suicides. Self-destruction occurs when people lose their last drop of optimism, and their loved ones somehow confirm the futility of hopes. Be that as it may, hope must come from reality. It makes no sense to say: “Don’t worry, everything will be fine” when everything cannot be fine. Hope cannot be built on empty consolations. Hope does not arise from fantasies divorced from reality, but from the existing ability to desire and achieve. A deceased loved one cannot return, no matter how much you hope and pray. But his loved ones may discover a new understanding of life. Hopes must be justified: when a ship crashes on rocks, there is a difference between hoping to "sail to the nearest shore or to reach the opposite shore of the ocean." When people completely lose hope for a decent future, they need supportive advice, to offer some kind of alternative. “How could you change the situation?”, “What outside interference could you resist?”, “Who could you turn to for help?” Because suicidal people suffer from internal emotional discomfort, everything around them seems gloomy to them. But it is important for them to discover that it makes no sense to get stuck on one pole of emotions. A person can love without denying that he sometimes experiences outright hatred; The meaning of life does not disappear, even if it brings mental pain. Darkness and light, joys and sorrows, happiness and suffering are inseparable, intertwined threads in the fabric of human existence. Thus, the basis for realistic hope must be presented honestly, convincingly, and gently. It is very important that if you strengthen the person's strength and capabilities, instill in him that crisis problems are usually transitory, and suicide is not irrevocable. 10. Assess the risk of suicide. Try to determine the seriousness of a possible suicide. After all, intentions can vary, starting from fleeting, vague thoughts about such a “possibility” and ending with a developed plan for suicide by poisoning, jumping from a height, using a firearm or rope. It is very important to identify other factors, such as alcoholism, drug use, the degree of emotional disturbances and behavioral disorganization, and feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. An indisputable fact is that the more the suicide method has been developed, the higher its potential risk. There is very little doubt about the seriousness of the situation, for example, if a depressive teenager, without hiding, gives someone his favorite tape recorder, with whom he would never part. In this case, medicines, weapons or knives should be removed away. 11. Do not leave a person alone in a situation of high suicidal risk. Stay with him for as long as possible or ask someone to stay with him until the crisis is resolved or help arrives. You may have to call an ambulance or contact the clinic. Remember that support imposes a certain responsibility on you. 12. Turn to the specialists for help. Suicids have a narrowed field of vision, a kind of tunnel consciousness. Their mind is not able to restore a complete picture of how to solve intolerable problems. The first request is often to provide assistance. Friends, of course, can have good intentions, but they may not have enough skill and experience, in addition, they are prone to excessive emotionality. For those experiencing suicidal trends, a priest may be a possible assistant. Many clergymen are excellent consultants - understanding, sensitive and worthy of trust. But there are among them those who are not prepared for crisis intervention. By moralizing and teaching banalities, they can push the parishioner to greater isolation and self -accusation. The source of assistance is doctors. They are usually well informed, can correctly assess the seriousness of the situation and direct a person to a knowledgeable specialist. At first, while the patient did not receive qualified assistance, the doctor may prescribe him drugs to reduce the intensity of depressive experiences. In any case, with a suicidal threat, the help of psychiatrists or clinical psychologists should be underestimated. Thanks to their knowledge, skills and psychotherapeutic influence, these experts have unique abilities to understand the innermost feelings, needs and expectations of a person. During a psychotherapeutic consultation, desperate people reveal their suffering and anxiety deeper. If a depressive person is not inclined to cooperation and does not seek the help of specialists, then another treatment is family therapy. In this case, the "patient" does not say about the desperate. All family members receive support, express their intentions and grief, constructively developing a more comfortable style of life together. Along with the constructive removal of emotional discomfort during family therapy, personal changes in the environment can be made. Sometimes the only alternative to help with a suicid, if the situation is hopeless, is hospitalization in a psychiatric hospital. Dressing can be dangerous; Hospitalization can be relieved by both the patient and the family 13. The importance of maintaining care and support. If the critical situation has passed, then experts or family cannot afford to relax. The worst may not be behind. For improvement, they often take an increase in the patient’s mental activity. It happens that on the eve of suicide, depressed people rush into the whirlpool of activity. They ask for forgiveness from everyone who was offended. Seeing this, you sigh in relief and weaken vigilance. But these actions may indicate a decision to pay off all debts and obligations, after which you can commit suicide. And, indeed, half of suicids commit suicide no later than three months after the start of the psychological crisis. Darkness and light, joy and sadness, happiness and suffering are inseparable, intertwined threads in the fabric of human existence. It is very important if we help to strengthen the strength and capabilities of a person who have fallen into trouble, impressing and showing him that crisis problems are usually transient, and suicide is not irrevocable.
Teen suicide
Most often, suicide committed in adolescence is an attempt to escape from a difficult life situation. Since adolescence is a rather complex transitional stage, suicide at this age has always raised many questions. It would seem that what could be better than the carefree life of a teenager? However, this is also a difficult mental stage of growing up, encountering the first serious problems, which do not always go perfectly.
The reasons that cause suicide in adolescents may be constant conflicts in the family or friendly group, repeated attacks of humiliation from peers, lack of friends and support, and a feeling of loneliness. Very often, such situations occur in dysfunctional or single-parent families.
There is also something of an epidemic of suicidal tendencies among teenagers these days. This phenomenon in popular culture is widespread exclusively among teenagers and is based on the desire to imitate favorite characters from books, films or animation. A little less often, alcoholism and drug addiction, as well as depression, push teenagers to commit suicide. It should also be understood that people who are by nature creative and extraordinary, who do not fit into the rest of their environment, often commit suicide.
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Prevention of teenage suicide
Prevention of teenage suicide is based on constant psychological support for the teenager and willingness to help him solve the problem. It should be understood. That teenagers are quite aggressive, sensitive and prone to dramatization. For this reason, the chance of attempting suicide increases if a teenager is experiencing stress.
The main problem also lies in the excessive suggestibility of adolescents. They may have a desire to commit suicide in order to imitate the person who did this. This is an additional and serious risk factor. In addition, among teenagers there are a lot of different misconceptions and “beautiful myths” regarding suicide. For example, suicide is often seen as a wonderful and heroic act.
This is especially true for suicide caused by unrequited love. The teenager fantasizes about how his loved ones, as well as the object of his love and adoration, will grieve for him. He imagines a beautiful dramatic scene in which he is the center of all experiences.
However, the reality is much harsher. The conclusions of forensic experts confirm that the majority of suicide attempts are far from easy and carefree deaths. Hanging causes quite strong and painful agony, after which the body completely relaxes and involuntary urination occurs, as well as the act of defecation, which in itself is not at all as wonderful as teenagers imagine it to be. The consequences of a jump from a height are also an unpleasant sight.
Stories about how the process of suicide actually occurs and how exactly it ends can serve as a powerful argument in the process of prevention. It is much easier to isolate a person from suicidal thoughts if he has a certain range of interests, loves to read, and someone older has authority over him. You can find suitable literature about the meaning of life or motivation and offer to read it. Simple open conversations with a teenager, psychological support, and friendship are also important.
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Signs characteristic of the adult population
A sign of suicidal behavior in adults is anger directed inward. It can also be indicated by heavy losses, poor state of affairs, lack of hope and options for help. Another symptom is an all-consuming feeling of hopelessness, as well as, in fact, an attempt to leave life.
Recognizing the signs of suicidal behavior can save a person's life. Loss of energy, a constant feeling of boredom, fatigue, long-term disturbances in sleep and appetite, nightmares with pictures of disasters, evil creatures, death of people - all this is included in the list of common symptoms.
Other signs: increased self-criticism, pronounced feelings of guilt, failure, shame, fear, anxiety, uncertainty, deliberate impudence, aggression. Depression manifests itself in the form of melancholy, as well as insomnia, anxiety, resulting in “tiredness of life.”
Signs of suicidal behavior in adults:
- planning a murder, voicing an intention to commit an action against oneself or another person;
- the presence of a murder instrument - a pistol or the like, and access to it;
- loss of connection with reality (psychosis), auditory hallucinations;
- use of psychotropic substances;
- conversations about methods and objects of causing physical harm;
- persistent desire to be alone;
- giving away personal items;
- aggression or inadequate calm.
Any statement regarding suicide should be taken seriously. When observing signs of suicidal behavior, it is necessary to find out as quickly as possible whether the person has weapons, medications to carry out the planned actions, whether the time of this act has been determined and whether there is an alternative to it, another way to relieve the pain.
If you cannot provide assistance, you must report the threat to the police and hospital. It is recommended to be present with the person who needs support and ask others you can trust to do this. The person should be convinced that he needs professional supervision from specialists.
Help for suicidal tendencies
If among your friends or loved ones someone shows signs of interest in committing suicide, you need to help him, since it is your intervention that may be decisive. Helping people with suicidal tendencies requires a lot of patience and determination. First of all, establish contact with this person, achieve goodwill and the highest possible confidence in yourself.
Conduct a conversation with the patient in the right way. Emphasize in every possible way the senselessness of committing suicide. Mention the fact that there is a way out of any situation, and also promise your personal support and assistance to the best of your ability. If someone openly admits to you their intention to commit suicide, do not try to expressly condemn such an act.
Emphasize your understanding, say that you appreciate the frankness and trust of your interlocutor. In addition to your own intervention, persuade the suicidal person to visit a psychotherapist in order to help his state of mind.
Signs
Depression is a disease of the whole organism, and its manifestations are different and vary depending on the form of behavior.
- Physiological signs: loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, lack of sexual needs, fatigue during physical and intellectual stress, pain in muscles, heart, stomach.
- Emotional signs: melancholy, despair, suffering, internal tension, anxiety. Desire for solitude, low self-esteem, passivity, depression, indifference to loved ones. Alcohol consumption and addiction to psychotropic substances.
- Thought signs: lack of concentration, slow thinking, difficulty concentrating, negative and gloomy reasoning, a hopeless view of the future, suicidal thoughts.
Doctors diagnose depression if some of the above symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks. Often the disease is perceived as a manifestation of selfishness or a difficult character. But it is necessary to understand that depression is a complex and serious illness that requires treatment. Otherwise, suicidal depression forms.
As a rule, people are in no hurry to turn to specialists with mental disorders because of the judgment of others and social restrictions (registration at a psychoneurological dispensary, a ban on driving a car, traveling abroad). Often their condition is associated with life difficulties that will disappear over time. Therefore, it is difficult to diagnose depression at an early stage.
People living in metropolitan areas are most susceptible to the disease. Poor ecology and high standard of living depress the human nervous system. Obsessive thoughts of suicide can manifest themselves due to obsessive-compulsive neurosis. Without proper treatment, the condition can develop into a severe chronic form.
Is it possible to die from depression? There is no depression itself, although mental exhaustion negatively affects all functions of the human body. Any long-term depression carries a risk of suicide.
