What an irony! My first post is all about the end. I have encountered a few case of suicide before, even been consulted by a counselor regarding a young school-going child that is suicidal. Just how common is suicide in our community? In Malaysia, it is highest among the Indian population, and the prevalence is 157 over 100,000 people (Maniam, 1988), which converts to about 3 in 2000 people that commit suicide. Not much, eh? Wait until you think of the burden of suicide to the family members, the society and the healthcare burden.
How wide is the scope of suicide? Do we only consider those who deliberately taking his/her life is suicidal? No. Not only that, those who pray to have their life ended also considered suicide. Those who has thought of death is also a potential suicidal. Thus, it is utmost important to take note of all these early signs before everything is too late.
How do we know if a person is suicidal? In another word, who are more at risk of committing suicide? First of all, if you noticed anyone that persistently complaining of sadness or simply look sad and down, these people needs attention and we must be cautious. It can occur despite having any obvious stressor or events. He or she might not enjoy what they usually do, e.g. watching television, shopping or walk the dog no longer a joy for them. The people around them will notice that he or she losing weight despite not on any form of diet. They will also not sleeping well at night, requiring sleeping pills at times. In short, those people that have major depressive disorder are at risk of suicide. If the person had committed suicide in the past, he or she is even at a higher risk than usual. Those who had lost their loved ones in recent time are also associated with increased risk of suicide.
Old folks that stay alone, jobless, and financially dependent are especially at higher risk compared to general population to commit suicide. Those who were diagnosed to have schizophrenia are also at risk. Schizophrenia can present in many forms, however the usual theme would be hearing voices, feeling that someone is inflicting harm onto themselves, that they have ‘special ability’ or misinterpret certain common things into unusual experience (the list is not exhaustive). Usually, a schizophrenic patient who will commit suicide are those guided by the voices, for example, hearing someone asking the person to take his/her own life or had underwent major stresses in life due to the disease.
Men or Women: Which Gender is More Lethal?
Men tend to choose the more lethal means of suicide. They are considered to be more impulse driven, straight forward and ‘I-mean-every-word-I-said’ kind of people. Women would choose more peaceful way, less deformity to the body and less pain way to die. Usually, they are more attention-seeking; harming themselves is a mean to attract attention to their current agony.
Treatment
How do we manage a potential suicidal patient? In the situation where a person are trying to take his or her life, we must ask ourselves: Can I help him or her? If the answer is no, then we need to get help from other people or the authorities. All suicidal case has to treated as a serious case. All of them requiring hospital management, the least to be seen by a medical personnel. There is always help available for those who looks for it. I personally do not reject alternative medication. In a multiracial community, the populations tend to attribute certain mental illness with supernatural experiences, thus seeking help from a traditional healers. However, one should not forget the need to treat his/her medical condition. If the person is left untreated for his/her depression, chances are the condition will get worse and the person might deteriorate and end up with suicide. Yet all these condition can be treated easily with medications. So do not deprive yourself from getting the appropriate treatment. Its okay to get other forms of help at the same time.
My mother is a social worker, mostly involved in counseling. She is a professional in doing her job. And most of the time, people can find help from her, emotionally, to unburden the mind and to find someone to talk to. The point is, always find someone to talk to regarding your problem. Find someone you can trust. Do not keep things to yourself too much until it became the last straw on the camel's back. There is always a professional person to help you sail through the troubled sea.
Next, a family members or friend must be supportive to the person. Blaming will only makes the matter worse. All they need is a little bit of love and a listening ears. Listen to their problem, openly discuss the matter. Have more family time together, sharing the joy and pain and the ups and downs.
In a Nut Shell...
I could not stress enough the importance of detecting a suicidal person early. Once detected, there is always a way to treat the problem. Don't be shy, get help. We are not alone in this world.
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