Little by little, and as happens with mental disorders, people are talking about this phenomenon which, based on figures like the ones we see, worries experts in psychiatry and psychology a lot.
Even so, as they explain from , the erroneous beliefs and stigma associated with suicide still make it a “taboo” subject for many.
And not knowing this phenomenon in depth or getting carried away by some false information can be dangerous and put a person’s life at risk.
For this reason, the European organization has published an article where the main myths and beliefs about suicide are collected, in order to clarify them and contribute to the knowledge of this problem.
Misconceptions about suicide
- People who talk about suicide are just looking for attention.
It is the first of the erroneous beliefs. It is assumed that they have no intention of doing so and are not taken seriously.
But, this is a mistake. Never let any comment about the intent to take your own life pass you by, because this can be a call for help.
As explained by specialists from the General Council of Psychology of Spain.
“When people are suicidal, they often feel lonely and need emotional support. Access to the right help at the right time can prevent suicide.”
So, if we find someone who expresses suicidal intentions, it is best to contact him and ask how we can help him.
- Only people with mental health problems commit suicide.
There is no direct relationship between mental health and suicide.
As they explain: “Suicide can affect anyone. There are a number of risk factors, such as experiencing violence or abuse, that are broader determinants of mental health.”
“Having a mental health problem does not automatically lead to suicidal behavior. Suicide can be a consequence of life experiences: lack of understanding, exposure to stigma, pain, self-destructive approach, and lack of access to information. mental health care.”
- Suicide is a personal choice and we must not intervene.
The reality is that most people with suicidal behavior don’t really want to die, “they don’t want to live the life they have.”
That is why support in time can avoid a fatal outcome.
- Talking about suicide can encourage a person to end their life.
Specialists deny this claim and explain that “talking openly about how you feel can help dissipate some of the tension that is causing your suicidal feelings.”
- When the mood of the person with suicidal thoughts improves, there is no longer any danger of ending his life.
This is also not true because sometimes the feeling that they are better off can simply come from the fact that they have already made up their minds.
“A sudden and visible improvement can mean genuine joy, the relief felt by the person who has finally made the decision to end his life and feels better because of this decision,” psychologists explain.
- Suicide cannot be prevented.
Yes it can be prevented. And there are many initiatives that are being launched in recent times to reduce the number of suicides.
Initiatives dedicated to “addressing the issues that lead to suicide attempts (stigma, lack of access to services, lack of mental health information, lack of peer support, adverse childhood conditions), reducing access to media suicide (i.e. weapons, certain medications), media reports, and school interventions.
- Medication is the best treatment for suicide.
From the General Council of Psychology they explain that drugs, including antidepressants, “do not reduce suicidal tendencies.”
- Hospitalizing the suicide bomber reduces the risk that he will end his life.
An involuntary hospitalization can increase a person’s desire to commit suicide. In fact, a study published in 2019 suggests that the common practice of forced hospitalization for mental health problems could do more harm.
“People who felt forced to be hospitalized against their will were more likely to attempt suicide after being discharged from the hospital. This was true even after controlling for other factors that could influence suicide,” the experts conclude.