Helping a suicidal person: A psychologist’s approach

Pages: 780-783
Nishi Tripathi and Sanjay Kumar (Department of Psychology, Chitamber School of Humanities and Social Sciences, SHIATS, Allahabad)
Sanjay Kumar (Research Scholar in Business Administration Commandant, CRPF)

The present paper aims to help understanding and preventing suicide. As we all know that suicide is one of the most frightening experiences a person can have. Suicide in India is slightly above world rate. Of the half million people reported to die of suicide worldwide every year, 20% are Indians, for 17% of world population. The risk of completing a suicide was 43% higher in men, who finished secondary or higher education, in comparison to those who had not completed primary education. Among women, the risk increased to 90%. Suicide is a desperate attempt to escape suffering that has become unbearable. Blinded by feelings of self-loathing, hopelessness, and isolation, a suicidal person can’t see any way of finding relief except through death. But despite their desire for the pain to stop, most suicidal people are deeply conflicted about ending their own lives. They wish there was an alternative to committing suicide, but they just can’t see one. Hence, the present paper aims to discuss as how one can help a suicidal person, who is in so much pain that he or she can see no other option. The paper will also throw light on the other aspects as understanding and preventing suicide, warning signs of suicide, how can one cope and try to maintain one’s own sanity? The study will also give some tips based on observations and literature review using psychological approach to bridge the gap between colleagues, family and friends that are fearful or uncomfortable being around a loved one and on the other, the person who attempted to commit suicide is feeling abandoned, isolated, and alone by opening communication. The paper advocates mental health promotion for young people through schools and colleges and introduce crisis counseling services and services for treatment of depression and alcohol addiction to avoid suicidal thoughts. A very large proportion of suicides in India can be attributed to the manner in which families and society at large deal with all forms of mental illness. Where something as common as depression is rarely recognized and when recognized is even more rarely treated because there is a stigma attached to ailments of the mind, there clearly is a problem. What can be easily treated with some medication and counseling more often than not goes untreated till it develops a more serious form. Both government and civil society need to act to change this. Above all awareness must be built that the mind is as liable to be affected as other bodily organs and there is nothing to be ashamed of in acknowledging this.