"... Hello ... just wanted to say I'm totally depressed ... I'm really bad. I'm fed up I must live day after day, and what is worse, I have not anything or anyone. I have no friends, no one helps me. "Can anybody hear me ?...".
This is part of a letter he wrote on 3 April this year, a young woman on the Internet is called "Mill." Its content is more extensive and strong. The grief that feels so great that ends by saying: "As I see no solution, I thought about committing suicide." Strong words that resound in the heart of everyone and realize the dangerous window that opens on the Internet for those who do not feel welcome newsits close. Shocking FIGURES
As "Mili", there are many cases of young people who see nothing but darkness in their lives. This happened just last Tuesday, when a 14 year old boy hanged himself in his room in Playa Ancha, leaving a family in bitterness and in utter bewilderment.
The subject is hard. According to Health Ministry statistics, in 2003 she committed suicide in our country 30 youths. And it is estimated that for every completed suicide there are between 20 and 50 failed attempts, a shocking dark figure who speaks of the high level of hopelessness of those who are just beginning to live. But most worrying is the trend clearly shows that the act of suicide is rising in our young populationfour countries.
What is happening to our young people, why some of them see death as the only solution to their short lives?
DEPRESSION, ALCOHOL, DRUGS
The psychiatrist Mario Quijada, president of the Chilean Society of Mental Health, has a very clear vision of the phenomenon. He argues that is because young people are in serious conflict with your personality, have increased depression, and intake of alcohol and drugs.
"All these phenomena are predisposed to have more psychiatric problems and, ultimately, encourage more young people to think about suicide as a solution to their problems," says the psychiatrist, who adds that this act is the answer to a more inhospitable and hostile.
"Young people increasingly have more trouble getting a profession, to gain access to opportunities. The competition is fierce, because now they have their title can not find work, therefore, life will become less hopeful" Quijada said.
But that's not all. Warns that households are now dysfunctional. You do not see traditional marriage (father, mother and children), but totally atypical families. According to this specialist, without the restraint of a parent, a mother, young people seeking shelter in bad things for them, the results are dramatic.
"Remember that 56% of children born in Chile last year, came from homes where there was a marriage established. That's gravísimo. This explains, in part, that has both juvenile psychopath and both said the psychiatrist, who says we are the ones to blame for this, not being able to hold the youth at this time.
NO NO ONE CAUSE
The psychiatrist Carola Alvarez, a specialist in Psychiatry and Neurology Society for Children and Adolescents, Somnia, says many factors influencing the decision to commit suicide (biological, psychological, familial, environmental). In the first category are the psychiatric disorders such as depressive mood disorder, bipolar mood disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorder and substance abuse. This factor is key to understanding suicidal behaviora, as the statistics show that adult individuals who completed suicide, 90% had a basic psychiatric disease.
Among the personal characteristics of youth who attempt suicide are low self-esteem, difficulty expressing emotions, particularly anger and sadness, and to control impulses, solve problems or conflicts properly, help and maintain a social network.
INFLUENCE OF FAMILY
but also influence the performance characteristics of the family (besides those related to its composition), which act as predisposing factors, maintaining or precipitating a suicide attempt. For example, families unwelcoming, with difficultylisten and empathize with each of the members, a high level of hostility and aggression, etc.
"An adolescent with psychological characteristics mentioned above, subject to environmental stress, such as a lost love or failure in school, and in the context of a loving family soon," rejecting "," culpógena "indifferent or minimized the difficulties may promote self-injurious response. Usually, these responses are impulsive. However, there are difficulties in the context of individual and family prior "says Dr. Carola Alvarez. Begoña Sagasti
psychiatrists (child and adolescent) and Claudio Stuart, Institute of Neuropsychiatry, IPSI, Viña del Mar, agree with Dr. Alvarez.
"It is possible that en any circumstances in which the adolescent is no tools to deal with the situation properly, think about suicide because it is a dynamic relationship between the adolescent and the environment which varies from moment to moment ", say the professionals.
Changes that are experienced in adolescence, increase the vulnerability of certain young people develop maladaptive behaviors.
However, the psychiatrist Gustavo Figueroa raises even more troubling, is that approximately 10 percent of teen suicides, no succeeds in establishing a specific reason to delete themselves.
"We know that a high percentage of young people who commit suicide have a history of depression, but there are a number of casI do not lower that this decision is a surprise for everyone: family, for friends and those closest in general, since failing to establish a clear explanation or reason. In these cases, never know why a young man she committed suicide because, well, not always a depression will result in a suicide attempt, "he explains.
The specialist said that among adolescents, imitation is also an important factor, especially when it comes to the death of a loved or highly valued by the young, as happened with the suicide of the front of the Catholic University, Raimundo Tupper, who eleven years ago, when he was 26, was launched by the balcony of a building when I was in San Josof Costa Rica, during a club tour through Central America. Despite its high projection, suffering from severe endogenous depression which led him to make the tragic decision, which led many teens to attempt suicide after hearing this case.
must act
However, not all suicides are motivated by a conscious decision to die. Often young people do not even pretend to generate a personal injury, but simply to express and convey feelings of despair, hopelessness or anger.
"Here we must be careful and watch, because always after a suicide attempt is a problem to address. In other words, you can not take cognizance of a threat or attempt to attract attention and do nothingrespect, "says Dr. Begoña Sagasti.
statistics support this, because clinical studies have established that between 60 and 70 percent of people who have committed suicide have communicated their suffering in some way and 50 percent has threatened or attempted suicide the day before.
SIGNS DEAL
Another aspect against which parents should be aware, is related to the signals emitted by the young man who is thinking about suicide. Most of the time there are warnings previous studies that demonstrate a need to communicate their problems unresolved. Teenagers may express their wish to die either directly or through messages related to the topic. normally have a manifestationof despair: "nothing will change", "no matter what I do, everything will stay the same," Who cares if I "," no one would notice. " Goodbye to loved ones through letters or hand over their belongings to others, expressed their desire to accompany a loved one has died, is absorbed, they withdraw from their social environment and family.
The psychiatrist Flora de la Barra said that suicidal behavior has several degrees. Suggests that in adolescence is common to have such thoughts are a kind of willing his own death game. The second level of severity, which happens less often, is the suicidal gesture, that is to think how I would, but not beyond. Then come the suicide attempts, which are less frequent yetand seen in adolescents, predominantly in women. "An attempt may be variable in severity, ranging from the young may be a small cut on his arms and telling a stranger to take pills in large quantities without telling anyone. Sometimes, in adolescence, is reached this stage as a way to ask for help desperate. The last stage was more severe and less frequent happily, is the completed suicide.
Dr. De la Barra added that often make the mistake of a young detoxify in the ICU then sent to your home and family hides the situation without studying how much risk is involved and the basic problems.
In this context, the psychiatrist Claudio Stuart stresses the importance of PrevencióNo teen suicide.
"As parents we must prepare for the passage through adolescence of our children. We must enhance our presence, while allowing the development of independence and autonomy and help you create tools to meet the challenges of passage to adulthood with responsibility. Also, to clarify and "land" their projects is so positive and learn to listen. " For the psychoanalyst
Maldonado Gustavo Abascal, people who are thinking about suicide do not want to hear answers or solutions. Seeking a refuge where they can express their fears and concerns.
If you've noticed that your teen has sent some of the signs mentioned, the psychotherapist recommends how to help: Listenand carefully, take seriously the threats of suicide, let talk about your feelings do not judge, ask if you have had thoughts of suicide, if you have any plans to carry out suicide; find out if it has the means to carry out their plan, do not swear secrecy rather talk to someone, talk lovingly and reassure her that is fine and needs to get help. HOST KNOW
For his part, Dr. Carola Alvarez recommended to encourage a warm and cozy inside the family, giving space for the expression not only of positive feelings, but also emotions such as anger, frustration and grief . "To the extent that parents allow their children to express whats case, may contain their emotions and help them process the difficulties, "says professional.
Far to alarm the population, with this background the specialists consulted only seek attention from parents, and put more alert to what is happening to their children.
Finally, as stated by the psychiatrist Flora de la Barra, "never dismiss a suicide threat or comments related to the theme, as the young person may be giving little cries for help. Suicide can be prevented by giving time, love and care for those in need. "
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Mercurio de Valparaiso- 04/23/2006Www.mercuriovalpo.cl
