SUICIDE: CAUSES, CHARACTERISTICS AND PREVENTION - ARTE - 2025

The suicide and suicidal people are universal and multi - causal phenomenon that has been present throughout history, although currently it is increasing, due to the emergence of own problems of society.

There are different terminologies related to suicide and it is important to differentiate between behavior, thinking and suicide attempt. What characteristics do suicidal people have? What is meant by suicidal behavior?

Definition

Suicide

Suicide has been defined as the concern or action aimed at causing one's own death voluntarily. In it there are multiple factors that intervene, such as socioeconomic level, personality variables, suffering from a mental illness, family environment, sexual relations, level of studies reached…

Suicidal thought

Suicidal thoughts are ideas of committing suicide or the desire to kill oneself, cognitions that range from fleeting thoughts about not wanting to live, to self-describing fantasies.

Suicide attempt

A suicide attempt is an action aimed at causing one's own death, and which does not culminate in said objective, comprising varied behaviors that range from manipulative gestures and attempts to failed attempts to end one's life.

The life and death instincts

As Freud said in his day, in the human being two basic instincts act, and in general in all forms of life; eros and thánatos; the life instinct and the death instinct.

• The life instinct is the tendency to preserve life, to union and integrity, to keep everything animated together.
• The death instinct is the death instincts that tend towards self-destruction, in order to make the organism return to an inanimate state, to disintegration or towards death.

Both instincts begin to operate or are present from the moment each individual is born. Between them there is a permanent struggle that creates tension, both in the individual in particular, and possibly also in human society.

Causes in adolescence

Youth is a turbulent stage, of continuous changes both physically, psychologically and socially, and the preparation of the subject for adulthood. This means that the adolescent must assume greater responsibilities, that he sets goals and objectives, and that he leaves behind other stages of his life where he took refuge under the wings of his parents.

Throughout this stage the subject will experience a series of experiences, such as the divorce of the parents, moving to a new city, changing friends, difficulties at school or other losses…

You will be placed in vulnerable conditions due to the experience of intense stress, confusion, fear and uncertainty, and you will feel that you are not able to handle what happens to you.

Therefore, you can resort to maladaptive strategies, such as the use of psychoactive substances, the management of inappropriate relationships, violence, bullying, abuse and suicide, among others.

Risk factor's

Early detection of risk factors can help to prevent suicide, so it is good to consider the factors involved.

Culture and sociodemography

Low socioeconomic status, low educational level and unemployment in the family pose a risk, since they limit social participation.

Family factors

The inappropriate role of the family, for example when there are dysfunctional relationships between its components, the absence of family warmth, the lack of intra-family communication, and the formation of conflict triangles (mother and child against father, parents against children…), can become in something harmful, generating a climate of uncomfortableness that can lead to the use of maladaptive behaviors.

A hostile, incomprehensible environment, substance abuse by parents, a family history of suicide, family violence, divorce, family unemployment, and terminal and infectious diseases also play a role.

Characteristics of suicidal people

Presence of mental disorders

Suicidal people can have depressive, anxiety, psychotic, eating, personality disorders or as well as substance abuse.

Impulsiveness

In addition, they tend to be impulsive, emotionally unstable, irritable people, with antisocial behaviors, low tolerance for frustration and bad relationships with their parents,

Biological factors

Referring to biological factors, research has found that there are low levels of serotonin, as well as a decreased activity in the ventral prefrontal cortex, responsible for the inhibition of behaviors.

Protective factors

As for protective factors, good family relationships and social support stand out.

Regarding personal factors, social skills, having good self-esteem, being able to seek help when there are difficulties, being receptive to the experiences and solutions of others, and avoiding the use of addictive substances are protective.

Within the culture and sociodemography we find that the affective and social integration networks, the good existing relationships with their classmates, with their teachers and other adults, support from relevant people and having a sense of life.

Regarding environmental factors, a good diet, rest, sunlight, physical exercise and an environment without drugs or tobacco.

Suicide prevention

Once all the variables that are linked to suicide, the protective and risk factors have been analyzed, and seeing that it is a tragic public health problem, and that it is increasing by leaps and bounds, it would be good to consider prevention work.

Early intervention for legal and illegal mental and substance abuse disorders is one of the most effective ways to prevent suicide and suicidal behavior. As well as the control of the effects of stress and aggressive behaviors.

It has been seen that the delimitation of populations with specific characteristics, the use of psychoeducational strategies regarding risk and protection factors, the use of combined strategies, and intervention at different levels of prevention, are the actions that are best related to success in prevention programs.

The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control is working to increase awareness of suicide as a serious public health problem worth investing in financial revenue.

Bibliography

1. Arias López, HA (2013) Success factors in suicide prevention programs. Psychological Vanguard Magazine. Vol. 3, No. 2.
2. Belloch, A., Sandín, B. and Ramos, F. (2008). Manual of psychopathology. Revised Edition (Vol. I and II). Madrid: McGraw-Hill.
3. Melo Hernández, E. and Wendy Cervantes P. Suicide in adolescents: a growing problem. Duazary. Vol 5, No. 2.
4. Vianchá Pinzón, MA, Bahamón Muñetón, MJ and Alarcón Alarcón, LL Psychosocial variables associated with suicide attempt, suicidal ideation and suicide in young people. Psychological theses. Vol 8, No. 1.