HELP THOSE TIRED OF LIFE

Two cases of suicide in the last days of August and six suicides in the first decade of September. It is impossible to confront the stingy statistics of the Interior Ministry with anything, and it unlikely to be possible, because facts speak for themselves. Either we have started to write more often about it or Azerbaijan is really overwhelmed by an epidemic of suicides. Last week, the media reported about another case - a young man who lived in Quba committed suicide. He hanged himself. He was only 29 years old. In his suicide note, he wrote that he was "tired of this life". The suicide of young singer Sura Asgarli caused a shock. What can drive young, talented and smart people when they are beyond the point of no return? And it seems that the desire of all those who committed suicide to die converges at a single point - real or apparent hopelessness. The suicide of world-famous people such as Robin Williams is perceived as a kind of impulse to action for those who intend, but still have not taken this terrible step ... Is it not better for people of this psychological type to be more responsible for their actions if not in relation to themselves, then to others?

What's going on? 

Meanwhile, statistics are relentless: since 2008, the number of suicides has been steadily increasing in Azerbaijan. If in 2008 there were 138 suicides committed, last year - 251 cases were reported. Moreover, this is not the peak - in 2011 and 2012, 414 and 482 people respectively took their own lives. In 2013, the majority of self-murderers were men - 137 people. There were failed attempts too: 34 women - and 22 men. It is clear that people resort to it when they feel that there is no alternative.

Today, scientists of the world are trying to get to the bottom of it: what is the essence of a person who decides to commit suicide and what needs to be done to prevent such attempts?

According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), every year more than 800,000 people die as a result of suicide - one person every 40 seconds. The WHO report on World Suicide Prevention Day says that suicides are a public health problem that affects local communities, regions and countries. Today, WHO calls for coordinated action to reduce suicide worldwide.

Among the most vulnerable groups are young people. Currently, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 29 years on a global scale. The number of suicides in different countries is different, but the greatest burden in the world falls on countries with low and middle levels of income - about 75 per cent of all suicides take place here. The sad palm in the incidence of suicides in developed countries belongs to Eastern European countries. In Japan, about 30,000 people commit suicide every year. The same lowest indicators are in Latin America and Islamic countries. There is no statistics available on African countries. The WHO notes that suicide is a personal tragedy that prematurely terminates the life of a person. Then it turns into a tragedy for all family members and friends, inflicting irreparable damage on the rest of their lives.

What are the causes of suicide? 

The WHO claims that people commit suicide because of poverty, unemployment, a rupture of personal relationships, depression or due to other serious mental disorders. More often suicide results from an impulsive act or the releasing effect of alcohol or drugs. And if suicidal behaviour is a complex phenomenon determined by a complex of interacting factors - personal, social, psychological, cultural, biological, etc. and since the link between suicide and mental illness has been established, a broad generalization of risk factors is effective.

 Many suicides are committed impulsively, at a moment of crisis, and in such circumstances easy access to the means of suicide such as toxic chemicals or firearms becomes a crucial factor that determines whether a person will live or die. This means that the family has to be extremely attentive to its member if they feel that he is in a difficult emotional state and restrict easy access to the means of suicide.

The WHO also notes a strong link between suicidal behaviour, gender-based violence and mistreatment of children. For example, if we take into account that there are many cases of suicide among children in Azerbaijan, they most often occur, according to the State Committee for Family, Women and Children, on the grounds of domestic violence. The deputy chairman of the State Committee, Aynur Sofiyeva, noted in this regard that violence against women and children is a major factor for suicide by children.

A higher rate of suicide occurs among people belonging to certain minorities, or those who have been discriminated against. Besides, the ambiguous attitude of society towards mental disorders and suicidal behaviour leads to the fact that many people do not seek the necessary help. Raising public awareness and destroying the existing taboos are important measures for countries making efforts to prevent suicide. WHO experts believe that work on suicide prevention requires coordination and collaboration among many sectors of society, both public and private, including health and non-health sectors such as education, employment, agriculture, business, justice, law, defence, politics and the media. This work should be comprehensive because no single approach can have an impact on such a complex issue. 

One of the recognized strategies for suicide prevention is diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, including methods of examination and assistance to persons who have made a suicide attempt. It is based on the restriction of access to means of suicide and the development of strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol by means of several techniques and encourages a responsible attitude towards media coverage of the topic of suicides.

Incidentally, the last point is very important given that the current approach to media coverage of certain tragic cases, related not only to suicides, is far from the concept of ethical treatment of human grief. A tragedy happens in a family, and representatives of electronic and other media, in the pursuit of ratings and "clicks", break with cameras and microphones into their house in order, no matter how blasphemous it may sound, to learn their opinion and then take a picture of the bereaved family's faces distorted by grief. And if a person committed suicide, but survived, the media are trying to get access to his hospital bed, not to mention the fact that in such cases, you cannot name the true name of the person who tried to commit suicide. After all, he has to live, return to society healthy and not lower his eyes thinking that everyone knows him and points a finger at him and burning with shame for his short breakdown. Moreover, irresponsible media coverage of facts of suicide, making a sensation out of them, increases interest in them and leads to the growth of "imitative" acts of suicide.

An important component of suicide prevention is a postvention as the bereaved relatives and friends of persons who committed suicide also require care and support.

Need for a national strategy 

According to psychologist Anvara Mammadova, Azerbaijan has realized the complexity of the problem, and some mechanisms to prevent it adopted and tested by individual countries are already in place. For example, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has opened a "hotline" to provide psychological care for adolescents and young people in crisis. By the way, according to the psychologist, not only young people, but also adults and the elderly call here. And the Ministry of Emergencies has psychologists who negotiate with a person who intends to commit suicide. However, the expert stressed that to fight this global problem of society, a "hotline" is not enough. "Today, many countries have developed a national strategy for the prevention of suicide, the presence of which indicates the clear commitment of the government to address the problems of suicide. On the basis of these strategies, numerous research units have been created for the study of suicide, and academic courses are being conducted on suicide and its prevention. General health professionals are involved in providing practical assistance to improve the diagnosis and support suicidal behaviour. In many places, self-support groups have been set up for persons who have suffered a loss, while trained volunteers provide assistance through online and telephone counselling," the psychologist says in an interview with R+, indicating that Azerbaijan should take the path of developing this strategy.

Special attention is required by the mechanism of decriminalizing suicide adopted in many countries, making it much easier to seek help in cases of suicidal behaviour. It is also necessary to monitor suicides, provide appropriate guidance on media coverage of this issue, conduct a campaign to reduce society's condemnation of a person who attempted suicide and raise public awareness. "And, of course, the strategy should take into account the cultural and social context of the country," Anvara Mammadova said.

While studying numerous suicides, experts found one similar circumstance: these people had strongly disrupted emotional interaction with their families, coupled with what they thought were intractable problems on the side. And the severity of human experiences becomes incompatible with life if there is no understanding and support in the family and he thinks that he has been rejected. So the family must take seriously any hint of suicide, especially words about it. Most importantly, show the person that he is needed and loved. Try to convince him that all wounds will heal with time. Convince him that there are no hopeless situations! Help him to see this way out.

SIGNS OF IMPENDING SUICIDE

Bringing affairs in order - distribution of valuable things and packaging. A person could be sloppy but suddenly begins to set everything in order. He is making final preparations.

Farewell. It may take the form of expressing gratitude to various people for their help at different times of life.

External satisfaction - a burst of energy. If a decision to commit suicide has been made and a plan has been drawn up, thoughts on this topic are no longer torturous and there is an excess of energy.

External relaxation - it may seem that the person gave up the idea of suicide. The burst of energy can be more dangerous than deep depression.

Written instructions (letters, notes and diaries).

Verbal instructions or threats.

Impulsive outbursts of anger in adolescents.

The loss of a loved one followed by the above symptoms. Loss of home.

Insomnia.