MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SUICIDE
- Suicide happens without warning: Suicide individuals give clues before they attempt it. 90% of such individuals have usually discussed their thoughts or have expressed the ideas to their near and dear ones. Psychiatrist should always inquire about suicide thoughts in every patients during his assessment of mental status examination.
- People who commit suicide fully intended to die: Some individuals who commit suicide usually try to convey their state of mind and it is usually a cry for help. A prompt intervention at this junction can help the patient to reconcile.
- Virtually all suicidal patients are mentally ill: Need not be
- Once a patient comes out of depression, suicidal ideas dissipates: Infact the chance of a suicidal attempt is much higher after the patient has recovered from depression. This is because the patient has more psycho motor suicidal act as suicidal thoughts continue to linger in his mind.
- Suicide is inherited or runs in families: There is no direct evidence for genetic factor although some mental illnesses are inherited.
- Once a patient becomes suicidal he remains so: Suicidal motives are usually transient and respond well to physical restraint or correction of precipitating factor or treatment of underlying psychiatric illness.
- Suicides occur exclusively among affluent or very poor individuals: Suicide tends to occur in almost all socioeconomic levels.
- Writer and artists have the highest suicide rates because they are crazy to begin with: Physicians and police officers have the highest suicidal rates as they have access to the most lethal means / weapons to commit suicide. Also their work involves a high level of frustration.
SUICIDE IN CHILDREN
Suicide as opposed to adult may not be detected in children because:
- In most cases of threatened suicide in children, the parents may not take this gesture seriously.
- Parents may get disturbed and upset and may not report the incident being afraid of publicity and social embarrassment and disgrace.
- Some parents may hush up the incident for fear of an investigation and possible prosecution for neglect and cruelty.
- Methods used by children often may result in death commonly classified as accidents.
- Lack of communication by suicide note.
CAUSE OF SUICIDE IN CHILDREN
FAMILY FACTORS
- Death or separation from parents
- Broken homes
- Over fighting, punitive and abusive parents
- Disturbed emotional relations with parents
- Rebellion against parents
- Curtailment of liberty
SOCIAL FACTORS
- Lack of friends
- Poverty
- chool failure
WARNING SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN
EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS
- Fearfulness
- Sleep disturbances
- Excessive fear
- School refusal
- Drop outs
ANTI SOCIAL PROBLEMS
- Fighting
- Stealing
- Running away from home
PRIOR SUICIDAL GESTURES OR ATTEMPTS
COMMON METHODS EMPLOYED
- Poisoning with drug, pesticides, lead paint
- Jumping from heights
- Drowning
- Throwing self before a vehicle
- Hanging
ROLE OF CULTURE
In India "SATI" which demands that widow should seek death with her husband – is a fairly occurring phenomena especially also promotes suicide.
PREVENTION
Prevention of suicide is an important public health responsibility. Proper dissemination of knowledge in life saving techniques plays an important role in the prevention of total outcome of the suicidal act.
Primary prevention lies in strong family life and re-establishment of standards which at one time served to integrate the person within a social group.
Secondary prevention is focused on those who have made an attempt. Here treatment for the patient and the family is essential. Counseling should be regular and involve key relatives of the patient. Centers for counseling and “self help” group should be encouraged.
Tertiary prevention: Mental health education at the school and collage level will help greatly in the recognition of its symptoms, warning signs, threats, predisposing factors, suicidal thought and suicidal attempts.
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