ADDRESSING SUICIDAL TENDENCIES

 

PLEASE DO NOT COMMIT SUICIDE; GET HELP INSTEAD.

A lot of people find it difficult to understand why someone would want to harm themselves or even end their lives but such stories abound in every part of this country. Suicide has become a national mental health issue because we hear stories of people of all ages taking an intentional self-inflicted act that ends in death.

Suicide refers to when someone harms themselves with the intent to end their life. A suicide attempt is when someone harms themselves with any intent to end their life, but they do not die as a result of their actions. There are many potential reasons that a person may consider suicide. Often, it is the result of long-term difficulties with thoughts, feelings, or experiences that the individual feels that they cannot bear any longer

Among other things, a person contemplating suicide may feel:

• ·         sadness or grief

• ·         shame

• ·         worthlessness

• ·         intense guilt

• ·         rage, or a desire to seek revenge

• ·         that they are a burden to others

• ·         that they have no worth or value

• ·         that life is not worth living

• ·         that they are trapped, either physically or emotionally

• ·         that things will never get better

• ·         intense physical or emotional pain

Some factors which can make a person begin to feel shameful, worthless, hopeless, and useless include:

• ·         the loss of a child, a close friend or a spouse

• ·         the end of a relationship

• ·         persistent feelings of failure or shame

• ·         a major change in life circumstances, such as divorce, unemployment, retirement, or homelessness

• ·         a serious medical condition or terminal illness

• ·         financial distress

• ·         adverse childhood experiences, like trauma, abuse, or bullying

• ·          pregnancy or pregnancy loss

• ·         certain cultural practices, such as forced marriage

• ·         Facing more than one type of distress can sometimes increase suicide risk. 

For example, someone dealing with depression, financial difficulties due to job loss, and legal trouble could have a higher suicide risk than someone only dealing with one of these concerns

However, suicide does not always occur because of a specific life event, and not everyone who experiences these events will consider suicide. People respond to adversity in different ways.

WARNING SIGNS

How can I tell if someone is thinking about suicide?

It’s not always possible to tell if someone’s considering suicide. Experts agree that a number of warning signs can suggest a person might have suicide on their mind, but not everyone shows these signs.

It’s also important to keep in mind that simply thinking about suicide doesn’t automatically lead to an attempt. What’s more, these “warning signs” don’t always mean that someone’s contemplating suicide.

Nevertheless, if someone begins to show any of the following signs, it is best to encourage them to talk to a counsellor or other healthcare professional as soon as possible.

These signs include:

·         talking about death or violence

·         talking about dying or wanting to die

·         buying items that could be used for suicide, such as large amounts of certain  over-the-counter or prescription medications

·         rapid changes in mood

·         talking about feeling trapped, hopeless, worthless, or as if they’re burdening others

·         impulsive or risky behavior, including substance misuse, reckless driving, or practicing extreme sports unsafely

·         withdrawal from friends, family, or social activities

·         sleeping more or less than usual

·         extreme anxiety or agitation

Even if they aren’t considering suicide, these signs may still suggest something serious is going on.

Experiencing suicidal thoughts does not always mean that a person will kill themselves. Samaritans state that around 1 in 5 people think about suicide at some point in their lives. Often, this is in response to a temporary feeling or situation.

In many cases, people who experience thoughts about suicide do not act on them. However, if a person has suicidal intent, it means that they have made a decision and intend to act on these thoughts.

This is an important distinction to make, as having suicidal intent indicates that someone needs immediate help.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

·         Take warning signs or threats of suicide seriously. If they say anything that concerns you, talk to someone you trust, such as a friend or family member. Then get help.

·         Urge them to call a suicide hotline.

·         If you believe their life is in immediate danger, call your country's emergency number.

·         Call the Police if you have to and stay with the person throughout the encounter to help maintain a sense of calm.

·         Take care not to say anything that might seem judgmental or dismissive. Expressing shock or empty reassurances, such as “you’ll be fine,” may cause them to just shut down. Try asking instead what’s causing their suicidal feelings or how you might be able to help.

·         Offer support if you can. Tell them you’re available to talk, but know your limits.

·         If you don’t think you can respond in a helpful way, don’t leave them on their own.

·          Find someone who can stay with them and talk, such as another friend or family member, a therapist, a trusted teacher, or a peer support person.

·         Reassure them. Remind them of their value and express your opinion that things will improve, but emphasize the importance of seeking professional help.

·         Remove potentially harmful items. If they have access to weapons, medications, belts, ropes, or other substances they could use to attempt suicide or overdose, take these away if you can.

References:

https://www.healthline.com/

Go Fully Charged  🔋 

For Counseling and Prayers 

email:- todayscharger@gmail.com