Suicidal behavior usually arises as a consequence of an untreated psychological illness, such as severe depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome, or schizophrenia, for example.
This type of behavior has been more and more frequent in people under 29 years of age, a cause of death more important than the HIV virus, affecting more than 12, 000 people per year in Brazil.
If you think someone may be showing signs of suicidal behavior, point out the signs you can observe and understand the risk of suicide:
- 1. Excessive sadness and unwillingness to be with others Yes No
- 2. Sudden change in behavior with clothing that is very different from usual, eg Yes No
- 3. Dealing with several pending matters or making a will Yes No
- 4. Demonstrate calm or unconcern after a period of great sadness or depression Yes No
- 5. Making frequent suicide threats Yes No
This type of behavior can be avoided, especially when family members or friends can identify you and help you initiate appropriate treatment. This is because, in most cases, the person is no longer able to identify other solutions to the emotional crisis that is going on. A good option is to call the Life Valuation Center by dialing 188 .
1. Show excessive sadness and isolation
Being often sad and unwilling to engage in activities with friends or do what was once done are some symptoms of depression, which when untreated is one of the main causes of suicide.
Usually, the person can not identify that he is depressed and only thinks that he is not being able to deal with other people or work, which, over time, ends up leaving the person despondent and unwilling to live.
Here's how to confirm it's depression and how to treat it.
2. Change behavior or wear different clothing
A person with suicidal ideas may behave differently than usual, speaking differently, failing to understand the mood of a conversation or even engaging in risky activities such as using drugs, having unprotected intimate contact or directing great speed.
Also, since most of the time there is no interest in life, it is common to stop paying attention to the way you dress or care, using old clothes, dirty or growing hair and beard.
3. Address outstanding issues
When someone is thinking about committing suicide it is common to start doing various tasks to try to organize your life and finish pending issues, as you would if you were traveling for a long time or living in another country. Some examples are visiting family members who have not seen for a long time, paying small debts or offering various personal objects, for example.
In many cases, it is also possible for a person to spend a lot of time writing, which may be a will or even a farewell letter. Sometimes these cards can be discovered prior to the suicide attempt, helping to prevent it from happening.
4. Demonstrate sudden calm
Demonstrating calm and carefree behavior after a period of great sadness, depression or anxiety may be a sign that the person is thinking about suicide. This is because the person thinks he has found the solution to his problem by not feeling so worried.
These calm periods can often be interpreted by family members as the recovery phase of depression and therefore can be difficult to identify and should always be evaluated by a psychologist to ensure that there are no suicidal ideals.
5. Making threats of suicide
Most people who are thinking about suicide will tell a friend or family member of their intentions. Although this behavior is often seen as a way to get attention, it should never be ignored, especially if the person is experiencing a phase of depression or major changes in their life.
How to help and prevent suicide
When it is suspected that someone may be suicidal, the most important thing is to show love and empathy for that person by trying to understand what is happening and what feelings are associated. Therefore, one should not be afraid to ask the person if they are feeling sad, depressed, and even thinking about suicide.
Then seek help from a qualified professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, to try to show the person that there are other solutions to your problem, not suicide. A good option is to call the Life Valuation Center by calling the number 188, which is available 24 hours a day.
Suicide attempts are often impulsive, so to prevent an attempted suicide you should also remove any material that could be used to commit suicide, such as weapons, tablets or knives, from the places where the person is suicidal Spend more time. This avoids impulsivity behaviors, giving you more time to think of a less aggressive solution to problems.
Learn how to act against a suicide attempt if you can not prevent it in: First aid in attempting suicide.
