Suicide: Know the signs

Two weeks ago, a victim of Typhoon Sendong committed suicide, allegedly because he was not listed among the beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

It was disturbing, but I was not exactly shocked at the news.

After personally seeing the condition in Cagayan and Iligan during the onslaught of Sendong, and again a month after, not much has changed.

We choose to think positively, for how else can one cope? If an outsider like myself feels the load of the trauma inflicted by Sendong, what could the victims be experiencing? It is unfathomable.

It has been more than a month. Efforts that have reached Sendong are primarily the distribution of relief goods, and the rebuilding of infrastructure. The Department of Health reported the increase of cases of leptospirosis and the possibility of dengue, and this is being addressed. Also, psychiatrists did volunteer work in Mindanao to check on the psychological well-being of the patients.

The Philippine Psychiatric Association went to Mindanao to debrief the victims of Sendong. Dr. Constantine Della, the president of the organization, said the victims manifested anxiety and depression. According to Dr. Della, Iligan and Cagayan only have three full-time psychiatrists. The organization’s goal was to train social workers and people on the ground to detect cases that need psychiatric attention.

There are reported cases of post-trauma disorder syndrome among Sendong victims. Some people are terrified whenever it rains for fear that it will bring flash floods. Trauma may or may not lead to anxiety or depression. This is why it is important that trauma patients be processed.

Anxiety, according to psychiatrist Dr. Bernadette Arcena, is when a person is in a sense of panic. A patient feels short of breath, “a patient feels like he or she is dying.”

Depression, on the other hand, is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy and poor concentration.” What’s worse, depression may lead to suicide.

There are one million cases of suicide worldwide, according to the WHO. It is alarming that suicide account for about half of the violent deaths worldwide. The Philippines, compared to other countries, has a low incidence of suicide, however, it is increasing.

Groups such as the Philippine Psychiatric Association aim to raise awareness on suicide, and hence, prevent it from claiming more lives.

There are several signs to look out for in suicidal persons, according to the Philippine Psychiatric Association:

A dramatic change in mood, behavior and appearance; expressing words or actions of hopelessness, worthlessness, guilt, shame, or having no reason to live or purpose in life; withdrawing from friends, family and society; expressing loss of interest in things that were previously of interest; sudden or dramatic increase in depressed mood or describing one’s self as a burden.

Someone who is suicidal may threaten to kill oneself, or say that he/ she wishes to die, verbally or in writing; looking for ways to kill oneself; unexpected jokes about death or suicide; expressing, in words or actions, of feeling trapped; and expressing the desire that he will die (including praying that God may take his life).

One may also behave in ways that are life-threatening or dangerous like acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking; engaging in self-injurious behavior such as cutting, poisoning or hitting their head against the wall; and stopping life-saving medical treatments or medication.

Someone who is suicidal may try to set his/her affairs in order, or make contact with people he/she has not spoken to in some time by giving away valued possessions; asking others to take responsibility for the care of people or pets; or contacting people to say goodbye, make amends or ask for forgiveness.   

A suicidal person may or may not manifest the abovementioned signs. They may also experience anger, agitation, sleep disturbance, increase in smoking, and alcohol or drug use, as well as a significant change in religious interest or preoccupation with afterlife.

Dr. Arcena warns that we should be careful when persons verbalize committing suicide, but we should be wary if they do not verbalize, which may mean that their desire to commit suicide is more intense.

The threat of suicide is real, but is hardly discussed or given attention.

The Philippine Psychiatric Association will have an Annual Convention on Jan. 24 to 27 at Taal Vista in Tagaytay.

(You can send any feedback at [email protected]. Follow me on Twitter at @bernadette_ABS.)