Depression And Suicide: Common Signs for Suicidal Tendency

Depressed patients are more inclined towards the suicidal tendencies. In United States about 11% population experiences depression and suicides accounts for 32,000 deaths yearly. Generally, we think that people going for suicides or discussing about it are not at all serious about it. They just try to get attention and nearly all suicides are the consequences of an impulsive and disturbing incident. In reality, majority of suicide efforts demonstrate extreme distress and are not simply an attempt to get noticed. This risk is further intensified by factors such as:
§ Record of suicide in the family.
§ Previous history of mental disorder or suicide attempt.
§ Presence of a serious medical problem.
§ Death of a spouse or divorce.
§ Being unmarried.
§ Alcohol or drug abuse.
§ Unemployment.
§ Leading a lonely life.
§ Increasing age.
§ Access to hazardous resources or such weapon at home.
§ Absence of support from the society.
§ Refusal to seek help.

It is worth noting that people who kill themselves intentionally have a diagnosable mental disorder with or without substance abuse. Approximately 2/3rd of individuals who complete suicide have visited a physician within a month of their death and also have diagnosable mental disorder either with or without substance abuse.

Suicide rarely happens without forewarning. If we are conscious about the common alterations in behavior, we can perhaps help a person in trouble. The following changes in the attitude a person setting his mind for suicide can be observed:
· Changing their pattern of school attendance and school performance.
· Remarkable changes in the temperament with severe nervousness and fearfulness.
· Becoming rude from polite.
· Lack of concentration.
· Feeling of distrust, dejection and sorrow.
· Unable to assess and solve a problem.
· Excessive suspicion of physical injury and diseases like cancer, AIDS, and others.
· Sudden decision to make or give away possession
· Remarkable change in the eating habits, leading to weight loss or gain.
· Display of changes in sleeping style.
· Constant laziness, lethargy, or grief
· Daydreamer.
· Self-destructive feelings.
· Persistent peculiar pains.
· Least concern in life.
· Loss of interest in the hobbies, sports and activities previously appreciated.
· Pessimistic thoughts regarding themselves with a feeling of guilt.
· Remarkable change in personality.
· Indecisiveness.
· Absorbed in the thoughts of death; writing and discussing about it.
· Systematic arrangement of the business affairs.
· Neglecting personal appearance remarkable change in dressing.
· Becoming careless, driving carelessly.
· Withdrawal from family and friends.
· Running away from home
· Narrate techniques of committing suicide and also threatening suicide.

If you are in trouble, there are people who are willing to help you. Just share your problem and remember that for every problem there is a solution. So, be patient and don’t lose hope. Share your problem with any of the following:

· Family.
· Family physician.
· Close friends or relative.
· Teachers/Employer.
· Social workers.
· Medical health centers.
· Psychologists.
· Suicide or crisis line.
· Community support services counselors
· Police.

Depression is more often diagnosed in women and they seek also treatment more than men. Therefore, the proportion of men and women dying from suicide is 4.5:1. Highest suicide rates are found in men above 75 years of age and are the third largest cause of death among the people between 15 to 24 years of age. It is significant to note that there is a temporary increase in the suicidal tendencies at the starting of the treatment for depression with psychotherapeutic drugs.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 at 5:34 am.