Suicidal behavior usually occurs as a result of an untreated psychological illness, such as severe depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or schizophrenia, for example.
This type of behavior is increasingly common in people under the age of 29, being a more important cause of death than the HIV virus, affecting more than 12,000 people a year in Brazil.
- If you think someone shows signs of suicidal behavior.
- Check the signs you can see and understand your risk of suicide:.
This type of behavior can be avoided, especially when family or friends can identify you and help the person initiate appropriate treatment. In fact, in most cases, the person can no longer identify other solutions to the ongoing emotional crisis. A good option is to call the Life Valuation Center, dialing 188.
Often, sadness and refusal to engage in activities with friends or do what has been done in the past are symptoms of depression that, if left untreated, is one of the main causes of suicide.
Usually, the person cannot identify that they are depressed and simply thinks they are not able to deal with other people or work, which eventually ends up discouraging them and does not want to live.
Find out how to confirm whether it’s depression and how to get treatment.
A person with suicidal thoughts may behave differently than usual, speak differently, not understand the mood of a conversation, or even engage in risky activities, such as drug use, have intimate unprotected or direct contact at high speed.
Also, as in most cases there is no interest in life, it is common to stop paying attention to how you dress or take care of yourself, wearing old and dirty clothes or letting your hair and beard grow.
When a person is contemplating suicide, it is common for them to start performing various tasks to try to organize their life and finish the business on hold, as they would if they were to travel a long time or live in another country. Examples include visiting family members you haven’t seen in a long time, paying off small debts, or offering various personal items, for example.
In many cases, it is also possible for the person to spend a lot of time writing, which can be a will or even a farewell letter. Sometimes these letters can be discovered before the suicide attempt, which helps prevent it from happening.
Demonstrating quiet and carefree behavior after a period of great sadness, depression or anxiety can be a sign that the person is thinking about suicide. This is because the person thinks they have found the solution to their problem and stop feeling so worried.
Often, these periods of calm can be interpreted by family members as the recovery stage of depression and can therefore be difficult to identify and should always be evaluated by a psychologist, to make sure there are no suicidal thoughts.
Most people who think about suicide will inform a friend or family member of their intentions. Although this behavior is often considered a means of drawing attention, it should never be ignored, especially if the person is experiencing a phase of depression or major changes in their life.
When someone is suspected of having suicidal thoughts, the most important thing is to show love and empathy for that person, trying to understand what is going on and what feelings are associated with. So don’t be afraid to ask the person if they feel sad, depressed and even think about suicide.
You should then seek the help of a qualified professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, to try to show the person that there are other solutions to your problem besides suicide. A good option is to call the Life Valuation Center, calling 188, which is available 24 hours a day.
Suicide attempts are, in most cases, impulsive and therefore to prevent a suicide attempt, all material that can be used to kill themselves, such as weapons, pills or knives, must also be removed from the places where that person spends the most time. This avoids impulsive behaviors, giving you more time to think about a less aggressive solution to problems.
Find out how to deal with a suicide attempt, if it is not possible to prevent it in: First Aid in case of suicide attempt.