Understanding suicide ideation:  Way out solutions Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the Zimbabwe and the second leading cause of death among 10- to 34-year-olds

Loice Vavi Health Matters

Suicidal ideation means having serious thoughts about taking your own life. There are two types of suicidal ideation, passive and active.

  • Passive suicidal ideation occurs when you wish you were dead or that you could die, but you don’t actually have any plans to commit suicide.
  • Active suicidal ideation, on the other hand, is not only thinking about it but having the intent to commit suicide, including planning how to do it.

Suicidal ideation is one of the symptoms of both major depression and the depression found in bipolar disorder, but it may also occur in people with other mental illnesses or no mental illness at all.

  Prevalence

The lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation for the general world population is about 9 percent and about 2 percent within a 12-month period.

According to Ministry of Health and Child Care Survey  adults ages 18 and older had thoughts about suicide, with the highest prevalence among adults ages 18 to 35 years.

Recently suicidal ideation has been prevalent in children from 8 years to 16 year-old. This awakening has led to this sensitive topic to be discussed from primary school level.

For people with mental health disorders, the rate is significantly higher. The exact numbers are unclear, but since suicidal ideation is a symptom of mental health disorders like major depression and bipolar disorder, the problem exists at a far greater percentage in these populations.

Suicide is on the rise, with half of the provinces in the Zimbabwe reporting more than 20 percent increase since 2010 and nearly all the rest reporting increased rates since then. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the Zimbabwe and the second leading cause of death among 10- to 34-year-olds. Women attempt suicide more often than men, but men are successful about three to four times more often than women.

 Symptoms

Warning signs that you or a loved one are thinking about or contemplating suicide include:

  • Isolating yourself from your loved ones
  • Feeling hopeless or trapped
  • Talking about death or suicide
  • Giving away possessions
  • An increase in substance use or misuse
  • Increased mood swings, anger, rage, and/or irritability
  • Engaging in risk-taking behaviour like using drugs or having unprotected sex
  • Accessing the means to kill yourself, such as medication, drugs, or a firearm
  • Acting as if you’re saying goodbye to people
  • Feeling extremely anxious

Be aware that passive suicidal ideation is wishing that you could die in your sleep or in an accident rather than by your own hand, is not necessarily any less serious than active suicidal ideation. It can quickly turn active and it most certainly has a blend of active and passive components.

If your loved one admits that they are thinking about suicide, make sure they are safe. Be there for them if and when they need you. If the situation is serious, you may need to involve your loved one’s doctor or mental health professional or perhaps call a suicide hotline for advice or help. Keep checking on them until you feel certain that they’re in a safe state of mind again.

 Causes

Many different factors can contribute to suicidal ideation. Often these thoughts strike when you’re feeling hopeless and out of control in your life and/or like it has no meaning or purpose.

These feelings may be due to circumstances like relationship problems, trauma, substance use, a crisis of some sort, pressure at work, a physical health issue, or financial difficulties. Having any mental health disorder such as depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or anxiety can also contribute.

Risk factors and warning signs of suicide

There are a variety of risk factors for suicidal ideation which include: –

  • Having attempted suicide in the past
  • Having a mental health disorder
  • Feeling hopeless, isolated, and/or lonely
  • Not being married
  • Being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender
  • Having served in the military
  • Having a chronic physical illness like cancer, diabetes, or a terminal disease
  • Having chronic pain
  • Having a traumatic brain injury
  • Having a family history of suicide
  • Having a drug or alcohol use disorder
  • Having experienced childhood abuse or trauma
  • Living in a rural area (kumusha)
  • Having access to firearms

 Diagnosis 

If one is experiencing symptoms of depression and are having suicidal thoughts, your doctor will likely give you a medical exam and ask you to take a questionnaire that may include the following questions:

  • Do you have a history of depression or mental illness?
  • How long have you been having thoughts of suicide?
  • Have you created a suicide plan?
  • Are you taking any medication — and, if so, what kind?
  • How often do you use alcohol or drugs?

Treatment

If one has suicidal thoughts but there is no crisis, your therapist may recommend psychotherapy, medications, and lifestyle changes that can help reduce the risk of suicide.

  • Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, during which you work with a therapist to explore why you’re feeling suicidal and how to cope.
  • Family therapy and education. Involving loved ones in treatment can help them better understand what you’re going through, learn the warning signs, and improve family dynamics.
  • Substance use disorder treatment, if you are also experiencing an increase in alcohol or drug use.
  • Lifestyle changes, including managing stress, improving sleep, eating, and exercise habits, building a solid support network, and making time for hobbies and interests.
  • Medications to treat any underlying depression causing your suicidal ideation. This may include antidepressants, antipsychotic medications, or anti-anxiety medications.

If one starts experiencing thoughts of suicide after taking an antidepressant, contact your mental health care professional immediately. Antidepressants have been linked to an increase in suicidal thoughts.

Life is precious, preserve life!!!!!!!

For more information, contact [email protected] or 0772224231

 

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