Let's talk about youth suicide
It's clear that youth suicide is a difficult topic for us to discuss. I think the main reason is a lack of understanding. We've grown up surrounded by myths that have led us to believe that if suicide isn't talked about, it's because they're just isolated cases, or because the more we talk about it, the more cases there will be.
We've forgotten that, in matters like these, it's not so much the what that matters, but the how. It's clear that if suicide is treated morbidly (as some media outlets do) or frivolously, it can be harmful, but that doesn't mean we should be afraid to talk about it. Instead, we should empower ourselves and acquire the necessary tools to address it in the best way possible.
I think it's important to start with two very significant facts. It's estimated that, worldwide, suicide mortality is higher than that caused by wars and homicides combined. In Catalonia, suicide remains the leading cause of death among young people.
The process of a person with suicidal ideation
Often, the question that arises when faced with such a serious issue as youth suicide is: What goes through the mind of a person who thinks about committing suicide?
The first thing to understand is that nobody wants death, but rather to stop suffering, and in difficult times, death may seem like the only way to end suffering.
Furthermore, a person's decision to ultimately "take action" is usually due to multiple factors. Many aspects can influence this decision. Therefore, it is necessary to consider suicide from a broader perspective, not merely clinical but also social.
To understand the process a person with suicidal thoughts goes through, it can be helpful to compare it to the start of a fire. On one hand, there is the fuel, that is, the risk factors, which include: having suffered mistreatment or sexual abuse, lacking social support, belonging to a discriminated group, or suffering from a mental disorder. On the other hand, there is the spark, that is, the precipitating factors, or, in other words, the straw that breaks the camel's back.
Where is Marta?
Some examples include: recently experiencing a humiliating or rejecting situation, a romantic breakup, the death or serious illness of a loved one, the end of a friendship, or academic failure. Finally, there are warning signs, which include behaviors such as social isolation, self-harm, apathy, or sudden mood swings. These also manifest as emotional distress: heightened anxiety, crying, irritability, etc., or as warning messages expressed by the person themselves. These messages can be very clear or rather subtle. Therefore, pay attention to phrases like: "You'll be better off without me," "I'm tired of fighting, I can't take it anymore," or "I wish I could just go to sleep forever."
When a young person says things like this, deep down they're asking for help. And that's where suicide prevention comes in. As a community and as a society, we can all do our part.
When someone tells us they want to die, we must take it seriously and offer them spaces for listening and affection so they can verbalize their suffering.
It is necessary that, with the help of a professional and those around them, they work through the emotions that cause them so much suffering. We can also work on community prevention, advocating for emotional education to be taught in schools, empowering them to be agents of change, destigmatizing mental health, preventing bullying and other forms of violence, encouraging healthy activities and the expression of emotions, and a long list of other actions that can make a difference.
We have a lot to say and a lot to do about this, so let's all get to work so that these preventable deaths become fewer and fewer and eventually disappear.
Article prepared based on the guide "Let's address youth suicide" published by the National Youth Council of Catalonia.
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