Suicidal behaviour: how to spot it and help your loved ones?

10 September 2024

The World Suicide Prevention Day or World Suicide Prevention Day is celebrated by 10 September was initiated by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) with the active support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) to promote suicide prevention activities worldwide.

Suicide is a global problem that affects all people regardless of their age, gender, religion or culture. Suicide remains the most common cause of death worldwide, claiming more lives each year than warfare and violent homicide combined, HIV, malaria or breast cancer. According to According to the WHO, one person in the world takes their own life every 40 seconds, but suicide attempts are much more common. The number of suicides is currently around 800,000 per year. It is the second most common cause of death among people aged 15-29.

According to official data from the State Statistics Service Ukrainianhe number of suicides in the country has been declining every year recently, but the actual figures may be higher. Suicides among men account for about 87 %, and among women - 13 %. However, the number of suicides among children is increasing, with 36 % among girls.

Why do people have suicidal thoughts?

Suicidal thoughts can occur when a person is under severe stress or in a state of mental or physical exhaustion. There are certain factors that can increase such thoughts:

previous suicide attempt or history of suicide among relatives and friends;
experience of difficult life events, physical or emotional abuse;
sudden stressful events in everyday life: ending a relationship or losing a job;
excessive use of drugs or alcohol, mental disorder;
feelings of isolation or lack of social support, anger, resentment towards other people due to perceived or real mistreatment;
certain diseases (especially those with severe pain) or disabilities.

However, it is important to remember that everything is very individual and the manifestations of suicidal behaviour can vary. Many suicides can be prevented by recognising threatening thoughts in time and providing help. In addition, in order to buy time until suicidal thoughts pass, it is necessary to limit a person's access to what could be a suicide weapon.

What are the signs in people's behaviour that should be of concern?

Suicidal thoughts may be an indication:

anxiety, irritability, risky behaviour, conflict behaviour, anger;
avoiding contact with friends, family, and community;
detachment, mood swings, sleep changes, lack of energy;
loss of interest in one's own appearance, negative self-assessment;
remarks about the impossibility of getting out of a difficult situation, about the difficulties in overcoming everyday problems;
threats to harm or kill themselves;
Talking about death, suicide, the lack of meaning in life and life purpose, developing plans to end their lives;
completion of current affairs, donation of property, drafting a will, preparing or sending farewell messages.

Signs of suicidal ideation can be both covert and overt. In any case, such words and actions should not be ignored.

What should you do if you suspect your loved ones are thinking about suicide?

If you suspect that someone close to you or a friend is suicidal:

Try to encourage them to talk, make it clear that you care, that you care about them and that they are not alone;
Ask why a person lives and why they want to die;
Try not to judge or criticise;
help you focus on how to live this particular day;
Try to talk about people they care about who might be hurt by suicide;
Encourage them to seek help and ask for it;
If the person does not want to talk, say that you are there and ready to return to the conversation later;
Make sure the person is not left alone and is not in danger.

Where to go if a person has suicidal thoughts/intentions?

If there is a direct threat to life and health, you should call 103,

or by calling one of the psychological support hotlines:

7333 - Lifeline Ukraine suicide prevention line;
0 800 100 102 - The line of the National Psychological Association;
0 800 210 160 - The line of the international humanitarian organisation "People in Need";
0 800 500 335 (from mobile or landline) and 116, 123 (from mobile) - Line of the NGO "La Strada-Ukraine";
0 800 501 701 - The All-Ukrainian helpline.

https://moz.gov.ua/article/health/%e2%80%98suicidalna-povedinka-jak-ii-pomititi-ta-dopomogti-blizkim

https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/09-09-2019-suicide-one-person-dies-every-40-seconds

https://phc.org.ua/news/vsesvitniy-den-zapobigannya-samogubstvam

https://www.phc.org.ua/news/rekomendacii-dlya-naselennya-pid-chas-voennogo-stanu

Doctor of municipal hygiene

Department of epidemiological surveillance (observation)

and prevention of non-communicable diseases

Alla TROKAY, Kyiv Central Centre for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals