Mental health problems and suicidal ideas are more common than what we think, what is important is to ask for help and be attentive in order to support others when needed.
Worldwide, mental health issues have been increasing exponentially. This has been more noticeable in young people and minors who are currently in middle school and high school, where the daily tasks and educational demands summed up with life in lockdown, social, personal, and family factors can create overwhelming and smothering feelings. Sentiments that could possibly be the root cause of negative consequences when they are not tended to on time.
In recent studies across the globe, it has been reported that each year more than 700,000 people kill themselves. For instance, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), in Latin America, more precisely in countries such as Chile and Colombia the data is not at all encouraging:
RATES IN CHILE
RATES IN COLOMBIA
Source: Semana.com y Radio Nacional
Facing these increasing rates, not only in Colombia and Chile, but in the world, it is important to keep in mind the different ways to address situations within our households or inner circles, in which we may be required to assist someone who is overwhelmed or is having suicidal thoughts.
In many cases, these thoughts appear due to high academic demands, excessive worry, and the on-going stress that we have to face on a daily basis as students, teenagers, adults, and social individuals. On other occasions, the cause of these problems can actually be a response to different factors such as: lockdown, depression, excessive use of alcohol or drugs, dealing with grief, losing a loved one, etc. No matter what the root is, you must take into account some red flags. Examples of these, among others, are excessive irritability, depression, insomnia or oversleeping, depressing thoughts, suicidal ideas, and talk about killing themselves or harming others. These may cause gradual and serious problems in short, medium and long-term periods.
You should also know how to approach these situations correctly. It is vital to ask and inquire about the mental health of the students all the time, not just whenever we start noticing the presence of some of the previously mentioned symptoms. It is important to keep it as a constant practice. Otherwise, pupils may never open up about these topics and will make it more difficult to find the root of the problem, in case there is one. This, in turn, will make it harder to take the next step and commence a really long and pebbled process where communication is the ground base. Identifying red flags such as the ones previously mentioned is crucial. Thenceforth, you must act immediately by trying to use the best communication channels available so you can address the situation and know how to customize your actions to the needs of the person involved.
If you need help, a visit to your doctor could be the first step. You can go to a general medicine professional who can make the initial diagnosis and then guide you to the specialist that you need. This can be a psychologist or psychiatrist. Even so, you can always choose to go for some of the student aids or programs that your college or city offers, there are several assistance lines enabled for these kinds of emergencies too. No matter what channel you choose in order to get assistance, the key to success is to be honest and as open as possible during these visits. Focus on the feelings that may cause more anxiety and all the thoughts that are difficult to deal with. At the same time, it is important to be receptive to the therapy, and be willing to embrace changes, as well as to be open to answer the questions that the professionals ask. Be open to anything that generates disagreement. Even though this will not be comfortable at first, it will be the best for you and your mental health if you are looking to have positive and encouraging results.
If at some point, for instance, someone starts to feel in the middle of a mental crisis, where the physical and emotional pain can be too much and the ideas of hurting themselves are overwhelming; or if that same discomfort reaches a point in which it can create hallucinations or alterations in reality, then it is time to reach out for a crisis plan. A crisis plan is a brief document in which some ideas on how to deal with the situation are recorded. This will be your bible to consult on what to do in these extreme and stressful scenarios. Here you can include, for example, who to call in case of an emergency, someone who can be there with you. It can be a family member, some friends, a support group, or just a relative who knows what you are going through. You can also have with you some exercises and guided therapies or meditations that can be performed on the spot and that can possibly lead your mind out of that situation.
Knowing and talking about mental health, suicidal ideas, and recurring and uncomfortable thoughts should be a constant practice within the family, our classrooms, and our academic environments. This, due to the fact that it is where it can be very common for all these triggers to appear. It is right there, at that moment, when communication will be in charge of vanishing all the myths, sensitivities, and misconceptions that are usually found around these topics. Understanding what to ask, and being honest and receptive can be the sufficient help necessary to deal with those crossroads and internal pressures that we are all struggling with in our daily routines and in all types of contexts.
