"Talking about suicide helps prevent it": how to recognize the warning signs and where to turn

More than three thousand Argentines die each year from a suicide, according to figures provided by the Center for Suicide. In Argentina 135 works, line of badistance so that individuals or family members who observe this risk can find a containment space.

Is suicide, the fact that a person has ideas to end his life can be avoided. The premise is that who reaches this limiting circumstance What you really need is to end your suffering, not your life and the suffering can always be reversed, no matter how difficult, with the proper help.

Since 2003, throughout this month and especially the 10, said World Day for Suicide Prevention for the World Health Organizationmore and more people around the world are embracing the challenge of getting involved, learning, training and helping others embrace life. As every year, the Buenos Aires Suicide Assistance Center invite the entire community to participate various activities to raise awareness of this issue complex problem.

Search also add new volunteers for the free, anonymous and confidential telephone support that this organization has been operating continuously for 52 years.

According to the Mayo Clinic, suicide and suicidal ideation can be detected in time. "Ending one's life is a tragic reaction to stressful situations – even more tragic because suicide can be avoided "

In their guides for the population, they maintain: "If you are thinking of committing suicide or if you know someone who has suicidal feelings, learn to identify the warning signs of suicide and to communicate promptly for help and professional treatment. You can save a life, yours or someone else's, that your problems have no solution and that suicide is the only way to end the pain, but you can take some steps to stay in touch. safety and enjoy life again. "

Symptoms

Some of the warning signs that a person with ideas to end his life begin to show may be:

For example, talk about suicide with phrases such as "I'm going to kill myself", "I'd like to be dead" or "I'd like not to be born".Find ways to commit suicide, such as buying a gun or storing pills.Isolate yourself from society and want to be alone.Have mood swings, like euphoria one day and a deep discomfort the next day.Worry about death, death or violence.Feeling trapped or hopeless because of certain situations.Increase the consumption of drugs or alcoholic beverages.Change the normal routine, including eating and sleeping habits.Do risky or self-destructive activities, such as drug use or careless driving.Give goods or order in personal matters when there is no other logical explanation for this.Say goodbye to people like they 're not going to see them again.Demonstrate personality changes or feel extremely anxious or agitated, especially when presenting some of the warning signs mentioned above.

The warning signs are not always obvious and can change from person to person. Some clearly express their intentions while others keep their thoughts and feelings secret suicidal.

It is important to consult the doctor if:

If you have suicidal thoughts, but do not think about hurting yourself immediately:

Get close to a friend or loved one, even if it's hard to talk about your feelings.Contact a spiritual leader or other person in your community.Call the suicide helpline.Schedule a consultation with your doctor, mental health professional, or other health professional.

Suicidal thoughts do not go away on their own, so ask for help.

Tips for family members

– The first thing your family member or your friend who has suicidal thoughts needs is to feel that it is not alone and that somebody another worries about what is happening to him.
– Be willing to listen without judging and without trying to give instant solutions, simply by sharing your pain.
– Motivate him and accompany him for a professional consultation.
– Do not minimize the problem.

To program:

he September 10, the speech "Suicide: prevention is possible" by Marcos Vanzini, president of the "Healthy Scenarios" civil badociation, María Demiryi, Alberto Fernández and Judith Josis from the Assisted Suicide Center, who will be accompanied by Juan Carr, founder of Red Solidaria. The appointment is at the Auditorium Borges of APOC, Bartolomé Miter 1563, CABA, with limited spaces.

In addition, on September 10, a 24-hour day care service will be set up, make visible the service of line 135 and add new volunteers. "Since we are a civil society and deal exclusively with volunteers, we can not cover 24 hours of attention on a regular basis," they say of the SAE. "We train our phone operators for emotional support, free, confidential and unprofessional.They do not need a professional degree because their help is provided with heart and is based on the human connection with the person who suffers, we need more people, get involved in the control of this problem and we think that talking about the issue does not provoke it, it just serves to prevent it ", says the commission of direction of the institution.

On September 28, an "Introduction to Suicidology" conference will take place. For professionals, teachers, students, health workers and people interested in the subject.