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I had such a good teaching about #suicide ;
“There is only one philosophical question, that is suicide.
Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy..”
“There is only one philosophical question, that is suicide.
Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy..”
“In a sense, killing yourself .. is confessing that life is too much for you or that you don’t understand it..
Dying voluntarily implies that you recognised.. the absence of any profound reason for living... and the uselessness of suffering “ -Camus
Dying voluntarily implies that you recognised.. the absence of any profound reason for living... and the uselessness of suffering “ -Camus
Truths about suicide:
1- Suicidal is not an accident
- its a highly determined act, not caused by negligence
- its a result of a complex unconscious mental mechanism that we don’t understand (even the ones who did it and survive didn’t understand)
1- Suicidal is not an accident
- its a highly determined act, not caused by negligence
- its a result of a complex unconscious mental mechanism that we don’t understand (even the ones who did it and survive didn’t understand)
2 - Suicide can be either impulsive or premeditated.
Some can suddenly have a strong urge to jump in front of a train after an argument
Some can spend years planning by slowly putting things in place right before the act (like will smith in 7 pounds)
Some can suddenly have a strong urge to jump in front of a train after an argument
Some can spend years planning by slowly putting things in place right before the act (like will smith in 7 pounds)
3 - You do not know what is going on in someone else’s mind
(you don’t even know what’s going on in our mind) - ie splitting*
So where does this leave us as health professionals or loved ones?
(No right answers to this)
(you don’t even know what’s going on in our mind) - ie splitting*
So where does this leave us as health professionals or loved ones?
(No right answers to this)
*In someone who is truly suicidal, there is profound splitting. Splitting is a mental process where one part plans the death, while the other part carries on as normal, and they switch between the two
This can explain why some people notice the signs and others don’t
This can explain why some people notice the signs and others don’t
4- From data : everyone is shocked and surprised by the death 
- shows how people can’t predict suicide
- many people die without ever being diagnosed with a mental health condition
- shows how people can’t predict suicide
- many people die without ever being diagnosed with a mental health condition
5- Suicide is a human condition, not a result of a mental illness.
Mental illness increases the risks, but its not the sole reason
Mental illness increases the risks, but its not the sole reason
6- suicide appears to result from incapacity to mourn
In almost all cases, there is a significant loss event.
If there’s one mental health diagnosis that we want to give, then adjustment disorder would be best suited
In almost all cases, there is a significant loss event.
If there’s one mental health diagnosis that we want to give, then adjustment disorder would be best suited
Pathway to suicide
Pre- suicidal vulnerability
Trigger: loss event (big loss thats not mourned)
Pre-suicidal state (fantasies of death)
Trigger event (can be very trivial)
Suicide
Pre- suicidal vulnerability
Trigger: loss event (big loss thats not mourned)
Pre-suicidal state (fantasies of death)
Trigger event (can be very trivial)
Suicide
7- Suicide prevention is challenging in any individual case, but NOT on a population level
Eg: reduction in access to means (like barriers at train stations) is known to be effective in reducing suicide rates
Eg: reduction in access to means (like barriers at train stations) is known to be effective in reducing suicide rates
8 - Suicide is an acting out event 
You act out when you cannot put your emotions into words
If you can put something into words, you are much less likely to act on it
You act out when you cannot put your emotions into words
If you can put something into words, you are much less likely to act on it
Thats why talking about suicide is actually encouraged.
And no, asking someone about suicide doesn’t increase their risks
In fact, often, (especially men) its the only way of reaching out to those who otherwise would say “im fine”
And no, asking someone about suicide doesn’t increase their risks
In fact, often, (especially men) its the only way of reaching out to those who otherwise would say “im fine”
