What are the signs that tell us that we are facing a person who wants to die?

The National Institute of Statistics (INE) has bitter figures regarding suicide, which has had a growing trend in Spain during the last decade. As a cause of death, it reached a peak between 2013 and 2014, in addition to a new rise in statistics just during the year of the pandemic (2020).

In 2020, 3,941 people committed suicide, only 31 fewer than in 2014, indicating that the coronavirus epidemic was not a significant reference. There are 8.3 out of every 100 thousand individuals per day who decide to end their lives.

Among those affected, there is a higher incidence of cases among men, who tend to verbalize their worries and discomforts less. Suicide is the leading cause of death in young people. Given these chilling data we ask ourselves:

What makes certain people more resilient or capable of facing the various difficulties that life throws at them? What predisposes an individual to not be able to see another way out of a problem that reaches the point of ending her life?

The reasons why someone has suicidal ideation

The truth is that all kinds of reasons hide behind suicide attempts. In some there is a genuine desire to die, while in others the motivations are not entirely clear. But we can talk about a common factor: Most people with suicidal ideation are depressed.

But not all suicidal people are depressed, nor do all depressed people end up taking their own lives. There are other factors that can influence this decision, such as the feeling of guilt. The person is not able to accept or forgive themselves for something they were supposed to do and did not do.

In addition to guilt, mental disorders (such as schizophrenia or depression) or being a victim of harassment, bullying, sexual abuse or other traumas are among the reasons that lead to suicidal ideation. Also economic problems, unemployment, suicide rates also increase. the breakup of a very significant relationship, suffering from serious and painful physical illnesses or another family member having previously chosen to take their own life.

Suicide attempts can also be interpreted as a call for help, a way to punish people with whom they are upset, a sacrifice that seeks to ‘stop being a burden’ or the mechanism to control a situation that at that moment is out of their hands.

What the suicidal person does not know is that in reality it is not so much the desire to die as the desire to escape from the situation they are going through and they truly believe that death is the only way out.

Suicide is often an impulsive act, caused by aincrease in anguish and despair

What are the warning signs that indicate that a person has suicidal ideation?

The person who wants to commit suicide is someone who has lost hope in achieving a goal, feels guilty, or cannot forgive themselves or others.. Therefore, if you have ever experienced a desire to die, I want you to know that not all of us are “overcome” by emotions or complicated situations.

Some of the indicators that can give the alarm signal are:

Talking about suicide or death in general. Talking about “going away,” taking a long trip, or “resting.” Saying that you will no longer need certain things and giving away your possessions to other people. Expressing feelings of hopelessness or guilt. Not feeling like it. going out or interacting with family and friends.Stop participating in favorite activities or hobbies.Changes in eating habits.Engage in self-destructive behaviors (drinking alcohol, using drugs, or self-harm).Engaging in life-threatening activities.Stop personal care side. Show irritability. Sleep more than necessary or suffer from insomnia. Manifest feelings of anger, hatred or desire for revenge.

Most of us end up overcoming trauma and stress. Over time, we are able to see problems from a different perspective and thus find a way to move forward. There are two words that help minimize suicidal ideation and even eliminate it from your thoughts: they are HOPE and FORGIVENESS.

HOPE

FORGIVE, when you have received harm or an offense and you do not know how to deal with it. It is normal for this to cause internal tensions, which translate into depressive or anxiety symptoms.

It is normal that, in order not to be hurt again, you shrink into your shell, storing feelings of hatred and resentment. Suicidal ideation is tempting to think about guilt that will house the people you hold responsible for your pain.

But you can’t imagine that you will also leave that terrible pain on your family and loved ones, wondering why you made that decision or if they could have done something to avoid it. That will haunt them throughout their existence. Do you really want to hurt your loved ones that much?

How to offer support to a person who wants to die

If you have a friend or loved one who is thinking about suicide, know that need help from a mental health professional, even if such ideation does not involve immediate risk. To support it you can do the following:

Encourage the person who wants to die to call a suicide prevention hotline. Generally, each country has this service. Find out what the phone numbers are according to your location. Here are some:
– Argentina: (54-11) 2575-1135 or 135 / – Bolivia: 2248486 / – Chile: 600 630 7777 / – Colombia: (601) 323 24 25 / – Ecuador: 2 6000477 – 292 3327 / – Spain: 024 / – Mexico: +5255 463 133 00 / Peru: 01 498 2711 / Uruguay: 0800 0767.Encourage him to seek treatment. A person with suicidal ideation or suffering from severe depression may not have the energy or motivation to seek help. If he or she does not want to see a specialist, suggest that he or she go to a support group, crisis center, religious community, teacher, or another trusted person. You can offer support and containment, but remember that it is not your responsibility to replace a mental health care provider.Help the person seek assistance and support. For example, you can research treatment options, inquire about insurance benefits, and even offer to accompany the person to a doctor’s appointment.Pay attention to the potential weapons within your reach. Try to remove firearms, knives, cleaning products with toxic components, pills and alcohol from your environment.

There are many therapies for suicide prevention and helping that family member or friend appease their desire to die. Try to pay attention to the signs and request timely help.