Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University Faculty of Medicine, Head of Department of Psychiatry Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Akkuş said that suicide, which is among the most common causes of preventable deaths worldwide, is an important public health problem.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Akkuş emphasized the importance of knowing the signs of suicide and scientific information about suicide in preventing suicide
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Akkuş, who also provides polyclinic services at Mengücek Gazi Training and Research Hospital, made statements about suicide.
Stating that suicide cases are very common in society, Akkuş said, “Not all suicides are medical suicides. In other words, if we look at suicides in general, there are social, sociological tests that occur. There are suicides accompanied by economic and socioeconomic stresses. There are also suicides that develop with psychiatric problems, psychological problems. There are impulsive, impulsive suicidal behavior attempts that are carried out as an instant reaction to certain life events that the person cannot cope with.
In addition to these impulsive suicides, which may be related to some personality disorders, there are also manipulative suicide attempts, which are attempts to attract attention. These, that is, manipulative suicides, if we think a bit more like a pyramid, impulsive attempted suicides, suicide attempts, are partially in a slightly more risky group. But the most risky group is planned suicide attempts. Planned suicide attempts are often made by individuals with underlying mental problems, either recognized or unrecognized, under treatment or without treatment. In other words, the most common cases of suicide among psychiatric disorders can be seen in patients with major depression and depression. Apart from that, suicide attempts, suicidal behaviors and planned suicides can occur continuously in patients with bipolar disorder. We can frequently see this in severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Sometimes we can also see such planned suicide attempts in patients with alcohol and substance addictions and personality disorders. Of course, suicidal behaviors and suicide attempts can also vary according to their severity. While suicide attempts by taking medication or self-harm behaviors, which are partly less life-threatening, are less severe suicide attempts, we can see them as severe suicide attempts, such as killing oneself with a gun or jumping from a height, and severe suicide attempts are more likely to end the life of the individual.
The way to prevent suicide is, of course, after the suicide attempt, with our medical institutional infrastructure, health services, both psychiatry and all employees, the necessary things are done if the person is alive. Necessary interventions are made after the suicide attempt.
Stating that with medical counseling, bilateral relations, psychological first aid, it is very easy to discourage suicidal thoughts and behaviors, Akkuş said that the person's bond to life can be strengthened. Professional or socioeconomic problems can be solved with the support of some institutions. A significant proportion of familial and socioeconomic suicides are preventable suicides.
It is also very important to recognize individuals with mental disorders in advance. In cases of youth suicides, adolescent suicides, the teacher or guidance counselor at school or the family should be mentally alert when a change in the child's mental state, mood, depression, introversion or a decrease in academic success, behavioral problems are observed, and should continue to support the child with a professional. When we look at suicides that lead to death, we know that the risks increase a little more in older age periods, especially after the age of forty and after the age of fifty, especially living alone, having poor social support, unemployment, having chronic diseases. Therefore, as a social responsibility, we should recognize such individuals at an early stage, provide them with the necessary sociological support, economic support and, if necessary, solve the unemployment issue, if they have alcohol, substance addiction, etc. Sometimes these can also increase the risk of suicide. If they have a mental disorder, referring them to psychiatrists and mental health workers as soon as possible and providing them with appropriate support and treatment will actually be very effective in preventing suicide risk and suicide attempts that may occur in the future.”
