Suicidal Behavior

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Suicidal Behavior

Suicidal Behavior

Suicidal Behavior

This is one of the most helpless situations that families face. For families of children who have attempted suicide, it is an incredibly difficult and distressing experience.

After a suicide attempt, families often rush to seek help. The sense of helplessness they feel comes from not knowing what to do, the breakdown of all communication techniques and bonds they’ve had with their adolescent child, and the feeling that nothing is working anymore. This situation deeply shakes the parents, leading to intense anxiety.

The young person who comes in for a session is usually reluctant at first. They may say they don’t need help or a conversation. But, under duress, they end up going to a hospital or clinic. A very sensitive evaluation is made. If the therapist can establish a therapeutic relationship, things will start to improve. However, this isn't always possible, and the turbulent process may continue. In such cases, psychopharmacological treatments may be necessary to intervene.

If I outline the key points, you, as families, may develop awareness on this matter.

1- Death Wishes: There are three stages before a suicide attempt. The first stage involves thoughts like "I wish something would happen to end my life." These thoughts often emerge in difficult situations. The family may not take it seriously and may dismiss it with thoughts like, "They won’t actually do anything." However, the adolescent may be starting a depressive process, which needs to be recognized.

2- Suicidal Thoughts: In the second stage, the adolescent is actively considering harming themselves. This could stem from various causes, and understanding it requires professionalism, which can only be properly assessed by a child and adolescent psychiatrist. In such cases, you should not seek help from anyone other than a doctor. Support should be offered, but particularly during moments of conflict, avoid dismissing it or brushing it aside.

3- Suicide Attempt: This could involve actions like taking medication, jumping from a height, or cutting themselves. These actions might not always have the intention to die, but you cannot always understand the depth of the situation, and it cannot be assumed. Even if the adolescent's actions seem like cries for attention, they should not be dismissed. It is crucial to act quickly by going to the emergency room.

4- Completed Suicide: This is a very tragic moment that no parent ever wants to experience, as it marks an irreversible path. It triggers deep disappointments, feelings of guilt, blame, and even potential family breakdowns. There’s nothing more that can be done, and this is a heartbreaking reality. Suicide attempts are more commonly seen in male adolescents, as they tend to be more likely to carry out actions with the intent to end their life. Female adolescents have fewer suicide attempts with the intent to die, but the attempts are still significant. While the overall rate is lower in females, it doesn’t mean the issue is any less serious. We hope that no stage of suicide is ever seen in your child. But remember, if it does occur, recognizing the process leading to suicide and seeking support is crucial. It can be observed in a variety of mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 are especially at risk.

In adolescence, while it is tempting to reduce the reasons for suicide to personal or familial causes, we must not ignore the societal and governmental factors that contribute. Medical conditions can also be a significant factor. However, one of the greatest contributing factors to suicidal behavior is "hopelessness."