This article was written exclusively for The European Sting by four health advocates Shreya Nandan, Dr. Shampa Gupta and Dr. Kartikeya Ojha. They are affiliated with Sting’s heartfelt partner, the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA). The opinions expressed in this article strictly belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect his IFMSA views on the topic or his European Sting views.
1 person commits suicide every 4060 seconds in the world. (1) In recent years, the world has witnessed an upward trend in suicide rates among young people, and there is a need to better understand the characteristics and circumstances associated with suicide, especially among young people. (2)
Raising awareness about mental health among the general public is an urgent need. Normalizing the debate about mental health issues and putting mental health on an equal footing with all other aspects that make up the WHO definition of “health” is a step in the right direction.(1)
The role of government in this aspect could be a game changer if plans and policies are in place with a clear commitment to the goals. Appropriate cooperation between multiple stakeholders and sectors (3) and the meaningful participation of young people and experienced people during the decision-making process should ensure significant reductions in suicide rates. (1). Reducing easy access to items that can be used in suicide, such as nylon ropes, pesticides, toxic chemicals, and drugs, can also reduce suicide attempt rates among young people.
Fundamental measures that future health care providers can take include adequately training all future health professionals to detect “at-risk” populations early through early screening. included. The general role of spreading positivity can be taken on by young people, ultimately creating support systems that help lift one another towards success. (5) help protect those at risk of suicide by teaching coping and problem-solving skills to prevent suicide risk in the first place; Programs should be delivered in school and community settings, and education and non-governmental organizations are important partners in prevention. (Four)
Communities need to provide vulnerable people with a nurturing environment, and governments can set a good example for enabling them to do so (4).
Besides this, due to the high recurrence rate of suicide attempts, follow-up care and appropriate counseling for survivors of suicide attempts are very important factors in this aspect. (2). All aspects of health care providers, including pediatricians, primary health care providers and mental health counselors, need to work as an integrated unit for suicide prevention.
Mental health and alcohol policies should be integrated across health services, and governments should ensure adequate funding to improve these services. (Four)
And as health care providers, we need to extend our outreach beyond the clinical setting to those who are undiagnosed and need treatment to prevent accidents from happening. Access to crisis management is one of the most important aspects of mental health service delivery in suicide prevention. (Four)
References
• https://ifmsa.org/we-need-to-talk-about-suicide/
• https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/opinion-editorials/detail/governments-can-play-a-pivotal-role-in-preventing-suicides
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7510279/
• https://www.ranzcp.org/news-policy/policy-and-advocacy/position-statements/suicide-prevention-the-role-of-psychiatry
• https://ifmsa.org/we-need-to-talk-about-suicide/
About the author
Shreya Nandan, Dr. Shampa Gupta and Dr. Kartikeya Ojha are global health advocates. Her Shreya, a fourth year medical student in Sikkim, aspires to become a general surgeon one day. She is passionate about using her skills and education for the benefit of her humanity. Dr. Shampa Gupta is a passionate researcher working in a cardiac RMO hospital in West Bengal and hopes to use my knowledge and skills to change people’s lives in the future. Dr. Karthikeya is a brilliant speaker and avid researcher working as a medical intern in Sikkim. He aspires to become a compassionate interventional cardiologist.
