IS YOUR RELATIVE SUICIDAL?

Any patient with a risk of suicide is gnerally hospitalised under the care of  a Psychiatrist, till his suicidal impulses subside to safe levels.

Sometimes hospitalisation is not possible. Or immediately after discharge, the patient has to be cared for, at home.

Suicide risk is a serious medical condition like stroke or heart-attack and hence such a patient is not fit to care for himself/ herself. The patient should remain in a restful and supportive environment, which is mostly at home with a trusted relative or friend. One must remove all poisonous materials, sharp objects and ensure that all windows/ balconies have safety grilles.

 Patient needs constant watchful companionship, and should not be allowed to be alone at any time. Patient should be protected from psychological stress and the care-taker should listen patiently and sympathetically to him/ her. Medication should be closely supervised and regularly given. Patient should be taken for regular check-ups to Psychiatrist/ counselor.

Care-taker should not attempt to counsel or 'pep-talk' the patient-leave that to the experts. Just be available and watchful.

Patient should be encouraged to follow a schedule with self care tasks, normal/ usual diet, some intellectual activity, moderate physical activity and positive social interactions. Patient can do as much of routine work or study, as he feels enthusiastic about. Ardous physical or mental effort should be avoided.

This is applicable to men and women; children and seniors also.

 

SUICIDE- ACT OF BRAVERY OR COWARDICE?

A recurrent scenario in my practice is that people believe that suicide reflects one's character- either that a person who does suicide is brave or a coward. I sometimes have to counsel a relative about the risk of suicide and the care to be taken, and the other party is busy assuring me that 'no such thing will happen as the patient is quite timid'. However, the reality is that: anyone can be affected by suicide. 10 year olds, whose personlity is not yet developed-have done suicide. whereas very old persons, who have nothing more to prove in their character have also done suicide. So suicide does not reflect one's character at all.

Suicide is neither an act of bravery nor of cowardice. It is merely an impulse, and a symptom of a mind tired of living. This impulse can arise is any  mind with sufficient despondency caused by disease, personality pattern or social problem.

Recurrent thoughts of suicide and every threat or talk of suicide increases the probability of suicide. Any family member, friend, parent, employer or family physician should take the talks of suicide very seriously. If any of you or your near and dear ones have been thinking or talking about suicide, they surely have a problem that needs to be addressed. The least you can do in this situation is to take that person to any mental health professional such as a social worker, counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist and get him/ her checked.

Suicides are rare events. But you surely don not want one to happen in your vicinity. Suicide is a horrible event for the person and the people around.

But most suicides are preventable. All persons doing suicide give prior indication of an attempt. All the talk about 'he was very normal' 'he was very cheerful' 'he had no reason to do so' are complete non sense.