What is Suicide Depression
Introduction
Depression is a mood disorder that affects people’s lives, interpersonally, socially, educationally, and even occupationally. Individuals that live with depression experience completely different thoughts or feelings before, during and after their depressive episodes. The strange feelings and thoughts can lead to chemical imbalances that make depressed individuals not understand the options available to relieve their suffering, leading to feelings of hopelessness and suicidal ideations. Suicide can be described as the intentional cause of one’s own death or the intentional taking of one’s life. However, not all forms of depression lead to suicide or cause someone to have suicidal thoughts. Suicidal depression can, therefore, be described as the kind of depression that has the potential to lead to suicide. This essay explores the causes or risk factors of suicide depression, its symptoms or signs, vulnerable demographics or groups, and prevention and treatment options.
Causes/ Risk Factors
Suicidal ideations or thoughts simply means planning or thinking about suicide. Suicidal thoughts range from a fleeting consideration to a detailed plan, but they do not include the actual act of committing suicide. Many people experience suicidal thoughts, especially those suffering or experiencing extreme depression. While suicidal depression is, in most cases temporary and treatable, it sometimes puts individuals at the risk of attempting to take, or even taking their own lives. In other words, most people with suicidal depression do not take their lives, but some may actually try to take their lives.
People can have suicidal depression when they feel that they can no longer cope with overwhelming situations in their lives (Hawton et al., 2013). These overwhelming situations range from broken relationships, financial problems, debilitating or devastating illnesses, and loss of a job, the death of a dearly loved person, etc. Common situations or events in life that can cause suicidal depression include unemployment, grief, relationship breakup, sexual abuse, rejection, remorse, and financial problems. Certain risk factors may also have an impact on the chances of people having suicidal depression. These risk factors include the following: a history of suicide, mental disorders, violence and substance abuse in one’s family; feelings of hopelessness, previous suicide attempts, and owning to a gun (Hawton et al., 2013). There are also certain conditions which are associated with a higher risk of suicide depression. These include generalized anxiety disorder, gender dysphoria, bipolar disorder, adjustment disorder, dissociative identity disorder, anorexia nervosa, among other conditions. Some studies of depression and its relationship to suicide have also revealed that certain genetic factors can increase the chances of the risk of certain individuals having suicidal thoughts. In other words, some individuals with suicidal ideations tend to have a history of suicidal thoughts running in their families.
Symptoms
There are certain symptoms or signs that indicate whether individuals are experiencing extreme depression and having suicidal thoughts. Individuals with suicidal depression may become unexpectedly angered; they may have irregular mood swings and long-lasting sadness (Dvorak et al., 2013). Additionally, suicidal individuals tend to have extreme hopelessness, and they may not have any hopes that their situations or circumstances may change. Besides having sleep problems, suicidal individuals prefer to be alone, and they avoid their friends and social activities; this includes losing interest in activities that they previously enjoyed. Furthermore, people that contemplate suicide exhibit sudden changes in behaviour and attitudes, such as moving with unusual slowness or speed, speaking unusually, and suddenly becoming concerned about their personal appearances. They may also exhibit self-harming or dangerous behaviour, such as having unsafe sex, driving recklessly, or using increased amounts of alcohol and drugs; all these are signs that a person does not see any meaning or value of life (Dvorak et al., 2013). In some situations, an individual thinking about taking his own life may begin to put certain things in his life in order. For instance, he or she may visit family and friends, make a will, give personal possessions to other people, and clean up his home or room. Some individual may buy poison or firearms, or they may write a note before killing themselves.
Who is likely to have Suicide depression?
Suicide depression rates are high among elderly people, young adults and teenagers (Nrugham et al., 2014). In many cases, however, suicide depression can be prevented. A number of studies indicate that the best prevention for suicide depression is to know its risk factors, be on the lookout for any signs of mental disorders or depression, know the warning signs for depression that can lead to prevention, and to intervene before individuals actualize their self-destruction processes. Individuals who receive care and support from family and friends and those who can access health services related to healthcare are at a lower risk of having suicidal impulses as a result of depression (Nrugham et al., 2014). Those who do not have access to these support services are, however, likely to be depressed and have suicidal thoughts. Therefore, we should approach any individuals that exhibit suicidal signs and ask them if they are depressed and if they are thinking about committing suicide. In most cases, people just need to know that someone cares, or they could be looking for an opportunity to share their feelings. People experiencing suicide depression should also be encouraged to medical or professional help. Highly depressed and suicidal people should also not be left alone lest they actualize their self-destructing thoughts. Any weapons under their possession should be taken away, including any sharp objects that they could use to cause harm to themselves.
Prevention and Treatment
Any suicidal thoughts should be taken seriously as a sign of mental problems, such as depression. As examined above, mental problems (depression included) can be prevented, managed or treated by talking therapies of prescribed medication (Valenstein et al., 2009). Suicidal individuals should, therefore, be encouraged or advised to seek medical treatment or take therapy sessions such as psychotherapy or CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). Also referred to talk therapy or psychological therapy, psychotherapy allows suicidal individuals to explore issues that cause them to have suicidal thoughts and learn the skills and strategies they can use to effectively manage their emotions. They can also work with their therapists to develop treatment plans during therapy sessions.
There are also certain measures that can be taken to lower suicidal risks or suicidal ideations. For example, suicidal individuals can get support from their family members by talking to them, asking family members to suggest or meet their health providers, or to attend therapy sessions. Avoiding illegal drugs and alcohol, avoiding isolation, and making attempts to remain or stay connected to others can also be helpful. Additionally, one can eat a healthful and well-balanced diet, do exercise, having enough sleep, and getting rid of any dangerous items such as dangerous drugs, guns, and knives are advised. Depressed individuals should be advised to seek things or activities that make them happy and less depressed such as spending time with family and friends, and paying attention to positive things and thoughts (Valenstein et al., 2009). They can also attend support or self-help groups, where they can discuss their challenges and issues with people who will understand them, get help and give help to other people going through similar challenges.
Under extreme situations, pharmacological treatments can also be used to reduce depression. This involves the use of anti-anxiety medications, antipsychotic medications, antidepressants and other drugs to reduce symptoms and help individuals feel less suicidal (Davidson, 2010. In situations where suicidal depression is caused by addiction problems, addiction treatments for alcohol and drugs can be used: self-help group meetings, addiction treatment programs, and detoxification. Once someone has started treatment, the treatment plan should be followed to the end; follow-up appointments should be attended, medications should be taken as prescribed or instructed, etc.
Conclusion
The focus of this essay was to discuss or explain the concept of suicide depression. As explained above, not all forms of depression can cause one to have suicidal thoughts. Suicide depression is, therefore, the kind of depression that makes people have suicidal thoughts or ideations, or to even actualize their self-destructive thoughts. This essay has highlighted the causes and risk factors of suicide depression which include alcohol and drug abuse, mental problems, traumatizing life events in life such as the loss of a family member, among other factors. It is also possible that suicide depression to run in one’s family, thus increasing the chances of someone being suicidal. Also highlighted in this essay are the symptoms that suicidal person exhibit, such as being isolated, irregular mood swings, extreme sadness, hopelessness, sleeping problems, loss of interest in certain things, and having no hope for the future. The people most likely to experience suicide depression include teenagers, older adults (those above 65 years of age), and young adults. However, the good news is that all hope is not lost because suicide depression can actually be reduced, managed or even treated. To prevent people from experiencing suicidal depression from actualizing their thoughts, they should not be left alone, and they should be encouraged to seek help from family, friends and medical experts or professions. They can undergo psychotherapy[y to understand the reasons for their suicidal thoughts, ad to learn the skills to manage their conditions, or they could use certain medications such as antidepressants.
References
Davidson, J. R. (2010). Major depressive disorder treatment guidelines in America and Europe. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 71, e04-e04.
Dvorak, R. D., Lamis, D. A., & Malone, P. S. (2013). Alcohol use, depressive symptoms, and impulsivity as risk factors for suicide proneness among college students. Journal of affective disorders, 149(1-3), 326-334.
Hawton, K., i Comabella, C. C., Haw, C., & Saunders, K. (2013). Risk factors for suicide in individuals with depression: a systematic review. Journal of affective disorders, 147(1-3), 17-28.
Nrugham, L., Holen, A., & Sund, A. M. (2010). Associations between attempted suicide, violent life events, depressive symptoms, and resilience in adolescents and young adults. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 198(2), 131-136.
Valenstein, M., Kim, H. M., Ganoczy, D., McCarthy, J. F., Zivin, K., Austin, K. L., … & Olfson, M. (2009). Higher-risk periods for suicide among VA patients receiving depression treatment: prioritizing suicide prevention efforts. Journal of affective disorders, 112(1-3), 50-58.