Suicide is a
deliberate act of self-harm leading to death of the person. Rate of suicide is
about 12.5/100000 persons and ranked as eighth leading cause of death in world.
Some facts about risk of suicide
1. Men commit suicide more than women
who attempt more.
2. Suicide rate increases with age
3. Caucasians are more prone to suicide
than other races
4. Atheist are more prone to commit
suicide than religious believers
5. Married people are less prone to
suicide
6. Employed persons are at a lesser risk
7. People with physical illness are more
prone to attempt suicide
8. Psychiatric illnesses like
depression, schizophrenia, alcohol dependence and people with personality
disorders are more prone to suicide.
9. Previous attempt to suicide is the
strongest predictor of further attempts
Para suicide- it is acts of self-mutilation without
intent to die.
Deliberate self-harm- the act of self-mutilation
with/without intent to die.
Prevention of suicide
Although prediction
of suicide is not always possible but if certain points are taken into
consideration, the chances of a person committing the act are greatly reduced.
1. Never take a person’s expressed wish
to die non-seriously even if expressed in anger.
2. A person who repeatedly threatens
suicide but does not commit suicide is at higher risk to commit suicide.
3. It has been seen that a person who
has committed suicide has had given some sort of forewarning.
4. Always keep a vigil on people with
chronic illnesses and psychiatric illnesses.
5. Once a person has attempted suicide but
could not succeed, extra care should be taken.
Rules to be followed when a person
expresses suicidal idea or has attempted suicide
Contact a
psychiatrist to assess the person’s suicidal risk by scales.
If the
person has been identified with a psychiatric illness it should be treated
promptly.
Keep an eye
on the person and keep dangerous things out of his reach.
There may be
a need for hospitalization
Do not criticize
a person for the act but extent full family support for the speedy recovery and
moral support so that the person does not repeat the act.
Depressed patients
coming out of depression are at particularly high risk of suicide called
paradoxical suicide and should be under supervision until complete recovery.
Surviving suicide
A family
member of a suicide victim is called surviving suicide. They are also at risk
and should be taken care off because of the grief that they could not prevent
it.
Suicides can
be reduced if the community becomes aware of its prevention.
Wishing you
a long and healthy life ahead
Dr Hitesh
Sharma
MBBS MD Psychiatry
For asking a query or phone/video consultation with me visit- https://www.icliniq.com/hitesh
MBBS MD Psychiatry
For asking a query or phone/video consultation with me visit- https://www.icliniq.com/hitesh
