Suicidal behavior is a complex phenomenon, influenced by psychological, biological, social, cultural and environmental factors, which can affect people of all ages, genders, cultures or social groups, this multidirectional character implies that, for prevention, systemic and transversal action -A cutting approach is needed. However, when prevention fails, we should start talking about postponing.
The willingness is to support the family and the environment close to those who have died of suicide. This process is as important or more important than prevention. People close to you may have a sense of ambivalence because of the strong stigma surrounding suicide.
- Suicide is the leading cause of unnatural deaths.
- In addition to deaths from road traffic accidents.
- WHO reports that there are about one million suicide deaths per year and predicts that by 2020 the rate could rise to 1.
- 5 million.
- It is more common for men to commit suicide.
- While women have twice as many attempts.
It is important to remember that over the years, some health strategies have been adopted to prevent suicide, particularly after the year 2000: the Ministry of Health has launched manuals for professionals in mental health, primary care, the media, education and counselors, including: following the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
In the presence of suicidal thoughts, it is important that the person brazenly attends someone they trust, shares what is happening and can help, it is also necessary to look for professionals capable of performing the proper intervention.
Remember that suicide is a permanent solution to one or more problems that are, for the most part, temporary, on the other hand, not finding a solution does not mean that it does not exist, that at the next moment it cannot be found.
“Suicide is an eternal solution to what is usually just a temporary problem. “Edwin Schneidman-
We can help the person identify situations that trigger crises; that is, identify the cause of suicidal thoughts to recognize when a seizure can occur.
Developing a kind of? The safety plan, drawn up by the person in question, with or without the help of a close friend or professional, can help reduce the likelihood of attempted suicide. This plan may contain the following (for example):
As mentioned above, the postponement is to provide social, psychological and institutional support to people close to a person who has died from suicide, who should be helped to develop a healthy grief and address the risk factors of a complicated grieving process.
The grieving process is different for each person and the suicide duel is very different from any other type of mourning, there are no good or bad reactions and any feeling is normal and acceptable (shock, denial, guilt, pain, shame). ?).
Is it common that, after death, he?For what? (Why didn’t I help him?) What’s going on?(What if I realized?
As the grieving process progresses, it becomes clear that while suicide can be prevented in some cases, in others all preventive measures are unnecessary and insufficient, the outcome does not depend on loved ones, it is necessary to understand that the questions do not have answers and the reasons are often not clarified.
Acceptance is the best way to integrate loss. As difficult as it may seem, the decision of the deceased must be respected and should not remain responsible for the suffering caused, it must be forgiven and the environment itself must be forgiven, yet feelings of guilt may persist, despite acceptance of the loss and forgiveness of the deceased.
Suicide is surrounded by myths and is a taboo subject, so the family and friends of a person who has committed suicide are often shrouded in ambivalent feelings, with sadness anger can appear. Shame is a common feeling, often leading to concealing the true cause of death for fear of social judgment.
It is important that the benefit includes psychosocial support and psychoeducation strategies, which would be strategies related to the reactions and feelings that can be felt during the grieving process and how to combat social criticism, it is necessary for the family and the environment to know that they have every right to remain silent if they wish.
Above all, purifying certain myths can help reduce fear of judgment and ambivalence.
A person who wants to kill himself or tries to kill himself is someone who needs and deserves help, like the people around him, we must not forget them, because while a grieving process is difficult and painful by definition, the process of suicide bereavement is even more, often accompanied by feelings of guilt and shame that can be very lasting and resistant to interventions.
In addition, a misresolved duel can be very complicated, which can even lead to a depressive disorder if you don’t have the support and resources you need.
It is therefore important to focus not only on suicide prevention, but also on the postponement and education of society, to end the stigma that punishes the environment of the deceased.