Suicide: Psychologist explains why people feel helpless,
Segalo says research has shown that almost 50% of people who commit suicide had a known mental health condition.
Depression and suicide are back in the news after the third suicide alleged to have been reported in Pretoria within one month.
Steve Biko Academic Hospital spokeswoman Lovey Mogapi said a person died when he fell off six floors of the structure on Tuesday. Democratic Alliance Gauteng MEC for shadow health Jack Bloom described the incident as tragic.
“We need to conduct a thorough investigation to determine what went wrong and whether there was enough preventative measuresin place,” Bloom said.
The weekend before, police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kwaza stated that police were looking into the incident following the death of a man who was on the Menlyn Shopping Mall when he fell to his death. In July, a second man was also killed when he fell at the Mall.
Psychologists at the clinic Unisa Professor Puleng Segalo explained that several factors resulted in people feeling hopeless and depressed.
“People might experience mental breakdown because of ongoing assault, which can be sexual, emotional, physical or workplace bullying, and could result in someone wanting to take self-harm or have what we refer to as suicidal ideas,” she said.
Segalo stated that if there was no assistance or a way to address the issues the individual was experiencing the person could think of suicide as the answer.
“With Covid, many people lost their source of income and as a consequence they lost their homes and this could cause depression and eventually the suicide option,” she said.
“Many people have lost loved ones and often their entire family members in the span of a few days due to Covid. This means that they might be struggling with unresolved grief and bereavement. Some people are struggling to cope and consider suicide as the only way to escape.”
Segalo revealed that research has shown that nearly 50% of those who take their own lives had a diagnosed mental health issue.
“Therefore it is crucial to raise awareness about mental health awareness, and get rid of the stigma that comes with mental health. The public should be taught that they are not on their own as well as that they have ways they can take to seek assistance,” she said.
Dr. Erica Munnik, a clinical psychologist in the psychology department at University of the Western Cape Dr Erica Munnik, clinical psychologist at the Western Cape University, stated that suicide is usually caused by a mix of circumstances and was usually considered to be a cry for assistance.
“It may be spontaneous or planned act. Depression sufferers are traumatized, or are suffering from chronic stressors or have suffered losses and are suffering from feelings of helplessness, emotional trauma and hopelessness are more vulnerable to suicidal thoughts, ideas or even attempts to commit suicide,” she said.
Munnik added mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar borderline personality disorder, and alcohol and drug abuse could also increase the risk of suicide.
“Losses and financial burdens and the losing family members as well as job loss, the loss of physical health, like constant pain and chronic illnesses can increase the feeling of despair and despair that can lead to depression or despair. depression or anxiety” she explained.
The stress of relationships could contribute to the problem since people might feel they’re a burden to other people, or they may feel isolated from society.”
Munnik stated that signs could include thoughts of suicide or plans for suicide, and saying goodbye to loved ones with phrases such as “life isn’t worth living anymore or life isn’t logical any more”.
She mentioned feelings of hopelessness and despair, a lack of interest or enjoyment in daily activities, a sense of isolation along with an upsurge in drug usage were also regarded as signs.