Suicide is a major cause of death in developing countries. Every year, suicide is one of the top 20 leading causes of death worldwide for all ages. Suicide is, unfortunately, impossible to avoid in large part. This is because the incidence of risk factors in the general population is high. But we can reduce the rate of suicide. Per year, one million people die of suicide. Worldwide, suicide rates are among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15–44 years and the second leading cause of death among those aged 10–24 years. The global suicide rate is 16 suicides per 100,000 population.
And there are 18 suicides per 100,000 males and 11 suicides per 100,000 females. The suicide rate is also increasing with age. There are variations in suicide rates for some ethnic groups. It is also different in different regions of one country. So, a percentage was indicated in the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance report. 7% of teenagers in the United States admit that they have attempted suicide.
Identifying people at risk of suicidal behavior is a challenge for physicians. In addition, suicide is difficult to anticipate. This is because the prevalence of risk factors within the population is high.
Suicide is rare, only a handful of people with risk factors commit suicide. In addition, some of the risk factors are not specific. And some of those who die of suicide are not of that risk category. Up to 90% of those who commit suicide have mental disorders. But, in psychiatric populations, suicidal behavior is not uncommon. And the rate of attempt for psychiatric patients varies from 15–50 percent.
Identifying people at risk of suicidal behavior is a difficulty. There are, moreover, opportunities for prevention. Suicidal people also consult general practitioners before the month before their death. But up to 80% of them have not been cared for their mental illness. This contact with the medical profession will make it possible to intervene.
Risk Factors Of Suicide Rates
Suicide is not discriminatory. People of all races, ages and ethnicities may be at risk.
The key risk factors for suicide are as follows:
Depressive disorders. A depressive disorder is a disease that affects the mind, thought, and body. It disables motivation and interferes with the proper workings of everyday life. It brings distress both to the person causing the mood disorder and to those who care about them.
Bipolar disorders. It’s also known as manic depression. It’s a mental disorder that causes extreme high and low moods. It also induces changes in sleep, energy, thought, and behavior. So, people who have bipolar disorder may have cycles in which they feel relaxed and energized. They also have other times of feeling really depressed, bleak, and slow.
Anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are a category of psychiatric disorders. Also, they characterize serious feelings of distress and panic. Anxiety is a worry about what will happen in the future, while fear is a reaction to what is happening now. These emotions can trigger physical effects, such as elevated heart rate and shakiness.
Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a chronic neurological illness under which people misinterpret reality. It can result in a mixture of hallucinations, illusions, and disordered thought. It may also result in activity that impairs day-to-day operations and may disable.
Personality disorders. Personality conditions are related to suicide and self-injurious behavior—both among the general and psychiatric community. In addition, many suicide attempters meet the criteria for personality disorder.
Other Risk Factors: Aggression, impulsive behavior, violence, sadness, genetics, childhood abuse, past attempts, and imagination.
Preventive Measures Of Suicide Rates
A multitude of causes involved in the act of suicide. Multimodal methods cover several stages of intervention. Some potential activities are essential for any prevention strategy. To date, there are several methods that are useful in preventing suicide. These include restrictions on the means, responsible media representation and general public education. Identification approaches, such as screening, gatekeeper training and medical education, are often needed to effectively prevent suicide.
Here Are The Measures To Lower The Suicide Rates:
1. Means Restriction
People around the world use multiple legal means to commit suicide. These include poison in Bangladesh, rural India or guns in U.S. And handguns are the most common means of suicide in North America. Suicide attempts using lethal means results in high rates of death. We have to note that the techniques of suicide are affected by their accessibility. In certain nations, restrictions on access to popular means of suicide have resulted in lower suicide rates.
2. Responsible Media Coverage
Responsible media coverage is vital to the avoidance of suicide. It’s because they provide public awareness on psychiatric illness and their treatment. They also provide ways to recognize people at risk.
Glorification and dramatization of a suicidal act can be followed by a string of suicides. It is particularly common among adolescents (“contagion”). So, we all need a responsible media attention to teach our youngsters.
3. Identification Methods
Before we can prevent suicidal activity, we need to recognize those at risk first. So, not all suicide attempters are in direct touch with a mental health specialist. Those around them should then equip themselves with tools to detect risks and allow a timely referral.
4. General public education
Public education campaigns will improve the risk of suicide. They will also help us recognize people at risk. Also, they can also reduce the stigma of mental illness. So, some campaigns are aimed at suicidal actions. For example, the United States Air Force Suicide Prevention Services. And other campaigns are aimed at anxiety disorders.
5. Gatekeeper training
Gatekeepers have an enduring impact on the suicidal person. For example, family members, friends, authority figures-parents, teachers. They can also act as a support resource. So, the teaching of gatekeepers focuses on the recognition of suicidal thinking and behavior. The training includes the following elements:
- Educating about suicide and depression
- Practical elements training (Like, how to talk about suicide)
- How to detect the risk of suicide
- How to handle an actual suicidal event
Treatment
Suicide is a dynamic issue including psychological, social, biological, cultural, and environmental aspects. Thus, a mixture of care and support strategies can provide for successful action against suicidal behaviour.
Here Are Some Possible Treatment Of Suicidal Behaviors:
1. Psychotherapy
Several evidence-based psychotherapy can be of use in the care of those at risk of suicidal behaviour.
2. Pharmacotherapy
Psychiatric disease contributes to the risk of suicide. Effective, rigorous pharmacotherapy for mental conditions is also key to suicide prevention.
Other Treatments Can Be The Followings:
Antidepressants, Mood stabilizers, Antipsychotics, Electroconvulsive therapy, Follow-up after a suicide attempt.
The Bottom Line
Suicide reduction requires strategies that include work at the individual and community level. We should use policies and public awareness programs in addition with other initiatives to reduce suicide rates.
