The Measure Postvention: When You Lose Someone To Suicide

Suicidal behavior is a complex phenomenon that is influenced by psychological, biological, social, cultural and environmental factors. It can affect people of all ages, genders, cultures or social groups. The multicausal nature of suicide means that a systemic and cross-cutting approach is needed to prevent it. When prevention fails, we need to start talking about the post- intervention measure .

The postal intervention measure is designed to offer support to the family and loved ones of people who have taken their own lives. Due to the stigma surrounding suicide, it is not uncommon for those closest to the deceased to have conflicting feelings.

Suicide is the leading cause of unnatural death in the United States, causing more deaths than road accidents. In 2018, over 48,000 people took their own lives. This means 132 deaths a day and 5 deaths every hour. In Norway, 500-600 people commit suicide every year. There is more than one a day.

The WHO reports close to one million deaths caused by suicide each year , and predicts that the number may have increased to one and a half million by 2020. They also found that men are more likely to take their own lives, while women do twice as many attempts.

Suicide prevention

It is important that everyone who has suicidal thoughts knows that they have someone they can turn to for help – someone they can trust and with whom they can share the problems without fear of stigma. It is also important that they seek the help of a professional who can recommend appropriate preventive measures.

Remember: Suicide is a permanent solution to a problem or problems that are almost always temporary. Just because it’s not an obvious solution right now, does not mean you can not find one tomorrow.

It can be very helpful for the person to identify situations that trigger a crisis. In other words, they need to find the cause of their suicidal thoughts to understand when a crisis arises.

Coming up with a kind of “contingency plan”, with or without the help of a close friend or medical professional, can help reduce the likelihood of the person attempting suicide in the future. This plan may include the following points (for guidance only):

• Danger signals.
• Support Network: the names of trusted individuals, along with their contact information, so that they can call them in an emergency or imminent suicide attempt.
• Anchor points: people or reasons that make life worth living.
• Preventive measures: seek out alternative solutions and remove things that they can use to harm themselves.

• A list of telephone numbers for 24-hour suicide prevention helpline. The number for Mental Health is 116 123, and they are open 24 hours a day.
• A reminder to call 113, the GP or go to the emergency room at the nearest hospital if the previous steps did not work, and the risk of a suicide attempt is imminent.

The postal intervention measure: when everything else fails

As we have already mentioned, the post-intervention measure consists of offering social, psychological and institutional support to the close ones who have taken their own lives. These people should be supported to help them grieve in a healthy way while addressing any risk factors that may complicate the grieving process.

Everyone mourns differently, and grief after suicide is often very different from any other type of grief. There are no reactions that are right or wrong – all emotions are completely normal and acceptable (shock, denial, guilt, pain, shame…)

After a suicide, it is common for family and friends to ask “why” (why did they do it, why did I not help them ..?) And think “if only” (if I had only understood it before, if they had just applied for help…)

As they move on in their grief, they begin to understand that although suicide can be prevented in some cases, there are others where no form of intervention can prevent their death. They could not have changed what happened. The grieving process ends when the loved ones understand that they will never get the answers to all their questions. Sometimes they understand that they will never fully understand the reasons why the person took their own life.

Acceptance is the best way to deal with a loss. As difficult as it may seem, the person’s decision must be respected, and they will no longer be blamed for the suffering they caused. Their loved ones can finally begin to forgive them, and forgive themselves. Despite the fact that they accept and forgive, the guilt can still persist.

Revealing Myths About Suicide: Basic Strategies For Postmvention Measure

The topic of suicide is shrouded in myth and is still a taboo subject. As a result, the family and friends of people who have committed suicide often feel a series of conflicting emotions. In addition to sadness, we often see emotions such as anger and rage. Shame is also common and causes many to hide the real cause of death from outsiders, for fear of being convicted.

It is important that the post-intervention measure includes psychosocial support and psychopedagogical strategies. These are strategies that are linked to the reactions and feelings many experience during the grieving process. There are also ways to counter social criticism. It is also important to tell family members and loved ones that they have every right to remain silent if they wish.

Above all, exposing certain myths about suicide can help reduce conflicting emotions and fears of prejudice. Some common misconceptions include:

• Talking about suicide leads to and encourages suicide.
• Suicide cannot be prevented because the person wants to die.
• Suicide is a cowardly / brave act.
• People who take their own lives do so for attention.
• Those who are serious about taking their own lives do not talk about it.

Conclusion

People who are trying to commit suicide or who want to take their own lives need and deserve help. They do the same around them. It is important not to forget those who have lost loved ones to suicide. If the grieving process is by definition painful and difficult, mourning suicide is even worse. It is often accompanied by feelings of guilt and shame that can be very persistent and resistant to intervention.

If a person does not grieve properly, it can lead to long-term problems. Without the necessary resources and support, it can even lead to depression.

As such, it is important that we not only focus on suicide prevention, but also on improving post-intervention measures. In addition, steps must be taken to raise awareness in society and end the stigma that is harsh on those who have lost someone to suicide.