Statistical data on suicide, how to carry ourselfes 10-09-2021
By: Juan Luis Gonzáles
Statistics in the World according to the WHO
- Nearly 700,000 people commit suicide each year.
- For every suicide carried out there are many suicide attempts. In the general population, an unconsummated suicide attempt is the single most important risk factor.
- Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among young people aged 15-19.
- 77% of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries like ours.
Statistics in the Dominican Republic offered by the MSP
- 648 suicides in 2018
- 608 suicides in 2019
- 417 suicides from January to October 2020
- 253 suicides from January to May 2021: Being Depression the main reason that caused 50% of these, followed by couple problems and the suffering of some other mental disorder, among others. 90% of these were men and the age range was very varied, from 10 years to 90, ages that surprise and remind us that children and the elderly can also suffer from mental disorders such as depression, anxiety or psychotic disorders. In the world ranking, the Dominican Republic is one of the countries with the lowest incidence of suicide below 5%, although we lack a lot of work to raise awareness and reduce the rate, remembering the negative impact and the consequences of suicide for both the person who commits it, as well as for their relatives.
When helping a person with suicidal ideation, we must be clear how we should communicate with this, some suggestions are:
- Listening attentively, remaining calm
- Understanding the person's feelings (feeling empathy)
- Transmitting non-verbal messages of acceptance and respect
- Expressing respect for the opinions and values of the person
- Speaking honestly and genuinely
- Demonstrating interest, concern and warmth
- Focusing on the person's feelings
We should avoid:
- Interrupting too often
- Be shocked or scandalized
- Manifest that you are busy
- Being condescending
- Making indiscreet or unclear comments
- Asking biased questions
Once we have connected and communicated with that person who is at risk, we must know what to do and what to avoid doing.
What to do?
- Listening, showing empathy, and staying calm
- Showing support and concern
- Taking the situation seriously and assessing the degree of risk
- Asking about previous attempts
- Exploring possibilities other than suicide
- Asking about the suicide plan
- Gaining time, making a pact
- Identify other supports
- Removing the media, if possible
- Taking action, telling others, getting help quickly
- If the risk is high, always stay with the person
What NOT to do?
- Ignoring the situation
- Showing dismay or embarrassment and panic
- Saying that everything will be fine
- Challenging the person to move forward
- Making the problem seem trivial
- Giving false guarantees
- Swearing to keep secret
- Leaving the person alone
Suicide in most cases is preventable, we must break the silence and encourage ourselves to shake hands with those who need it.
References:
-Ministry of Interior and Police, processed by Department of Mental Health/MSP 2021
-Suicide Prevention Guide for WHO Primary Care Workers.
