Üsküdar University NP Feneryolu Medical Center Psychiatry Specialist. Dr. Erman Şentürk made an assessment on suicide and suicide prevention in his statement on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention.
Psychiatry Specialist Dr. Stating that suicide is a multidimensional and complex behavior with biological, psychiatric and sociological aspects, Erman Şentürk said, “Suicide can occur in many situations, from chaotic processes that are not accompanied by any psychiatric disease to various psychiatric diseases, and it requires a broad perspective. The act of suicide, whether completed or not, is a destructive act that can affect not only the individual, but also his family, loved ones, and even the society he lives in from time to time. From this point of view, suicidal ideation and behavior is an important psychiatric emergency on the one hand, and a major public health problem on the other.
In the report published by the World Health Organization, suicide ranks second among the causes of death in young people and it is reported that approximately 800 people end their lives by suicide every year in the world. Despite the fact that suicide can result in death or permanent damage, it should not be forgotten that it is a preventable act.
In suicide prevention, it is extremely important to identify risk groups and develop preventive approaches for these groups. At this point, the ultimate goal is to prevent suicidal behavior or to rehabilitate the suicidal person. The most important risk group for suicidal behavior includes individuals with depression, bipolar mood disorder, alcohol-substance use disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder. used the phrases.
Stating that 90 percent of completed suicides have a psychiatric diagnosis, Dr. Erman Şentürk said, “Therefore, suicidal ideation in all psychiatric patients should be questioned in the first evaluation and controls. Again, childhood traumas, especially history of sexual and physical abuse, are an independent risk factor for suicide and increase the probability by about 10 times. People who have attempted suicide before are at greater risk for recurrent attempts. The risk of recurrence of suicide attempt is very high in the first year after the suicide attempt and especially in the first three months. Having a family history of suicide attempt is also an important risk factor.
Suicidal ideation, which comes with major life crises and the intense stress that follows, is not uncommon. Recent losses such as separation, divorce and death, loss of bodily abilities as a result of accident and illness, loss of self-worth or social status, loss of sense of security such as dismissal or bankruptcy, migration and relocation, loss of sense of security from an action or a hearing While the intense feeling of shame due to the situation can make the person vulnerable and helpless, it poses a risk in terms of suicidal behavior.
Adolescents, the elderly, those who live alone, those who do not have a partner, individuals with chronic and severe diseases, the disabled, women or children who are victims of violence are in another risk group that is important in terms of suicidal behavior, although they do not have a psychiatric disorder. said.
Noting that attempts to prevent suicide can be evaluated socially or individually, Psychiatrist Specialist. Dr. Erman Şentürk stated the following:
“The main goal in terms of social prevention is to identify and eliminate the factors that increase the suicidality of individuals in the society, to identify risk groups and risk factors and to develop preventive approaches. In terms of individual prevention, it is aimed to treat people who have attempted suicide and to prevent the recurrence of suicidal behavior.
The majority of suicide attempts are carried out by individuals in crisis situations who do not have any disease. When the person cannot resolve this crisis process with conventional coping methods, he or she may feel intense anxiety, fear of losing control, inadequacy, guilt and restlessness. This chaotic process he is in can make the person aggressive towards himself. Therefore, crisis intervention approach has great importance among suicide prevention strategies. In crisis situations, on-site and timely intervention is of vital importance. At these times, you should definitely not hesitate to get psychiatric support.”
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