Suicide prevention amid the coronavirus pandemic: “ We are there for everyone ”

Every year, around 800,000 people die from suicide worldwide; some come from giant and prolonged families, others are so lonely that they feel they have no one to turn to. On average, another 135 people are affected by death, or 108 million more. affected people year.

He can vary significantly from country to country. Although rates have fallen in Germany over the past few decades, suicides account for more deaths than road injuries and illicit drug use combined.

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September 10 marks World Suicide Procution Day (WSPD), an annual global occasion organized through the International Association for suicide procution (IASP) and co-sponsored through the World Health Organization. It is a day of remembrance for those who have passed away and also serves as a global call to unite with others.

And this year, the imaginable effects of the coronavirus pandemic on suicide rates are up for debate among experts.

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Measuring the effect of COVID-19

This year’s commemorative and educational activities are under the slogan “Working in combination to prevent you from suicide,” and adapting the program to measures against coronavirus has been a challenge.

“We cannot physically touch each other at this time, yet it is even more vital to symbolically interpret the motto: that we are truly there for each other and that we take care of each other,” Schneider said.

Experts agree that the effects of the coronavirus pandemic would possibly accumulate threat points shown for self-harm, adding isolation, anxiety, economic loss and increasing alcohol and drug use.

At the same time, the researchers warned that they opposed making conclusions about the effect of the pandemic on suicide rates, saying that knowledge does not yet exist.

“We still don’t know much about the effect of the pandemic on suicides. But of course, there is a strong effect on suicide prevention, especially when it comes to service delivery,” said Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, researcher and treasurer of the suicide. at the IASP he told DW.

Read more: Coronavirus triggers a fitness crisis in India

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Niederkrotenthaler and dozens of fellow researchers are helping lately coordinate and compile studies around the world on suicide prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hope is to devise policies that will help others succeed over this pandemic and what will come.

“I think it’s vital to point out that we don’t necessarily have to reinvent the wheel because of the pandemic, but we need to see how we can translate what we know before the pandemic into the scenario we’re on. Let’s locate, ” he said.

While coronavirus restrictions have closed doors, they have opened virtual windows.

Crisis hotlines and local teams expanded their success to deliver online services, organizational sessions were conducted through video chats, and therapists can still meet with their patients, even if they are computer screens.

“This is a very exclusive crisis, also a very exclusive pandemic, because for the first time we have the option of using online services,” according to Niederkrotenthaler, who also heads the Suicide Studies Unit at the Medical University of Vienna.

Spending time in green spaces can lessen tension and help us feel happier and healthier. If outdoor exercise is an option where you live, as is the case in Germany, enjoy a daily walk in a nearby park or nature reserve. Just avoid crowded areas. , stay safe from others and wash your hands as soon as you get home.

If walking through the forest is not possible, there are still tactics to enjoy nature at home. Research suggests that searching for greenery through a window, or even listening to the sounds of nature, can help our well-being. Scientists from Brighton and Sussex The UK School of Medicine found that birdsong, wind in the trees or a bubbling stream (sounds available seamlessly through online streaming) also help us relax.

Many national parks are closed to the public and travel is prohibited, but thanks to the generation it is imaginable to practice wildlife without leaving home. Many nature reserves and animal sanctuaries have webcams that you can stream live online, allowing you to ‘visit’ a variety of places, from a gorilla room in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to an elephant park in Africa. South and a bald eagle’s nest in the United States.

Zoos and aquariums also offer live broadcasts from their enclosures, such as this jellyfish chamber at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on the west coast of the U. S. Studies show that observing aquariums, even for a short period of time, it can have a calming effect, helping with tension and anxiety.

Start paying attention to your surroundings. Perhaps there is a bumblebee humming among the flowers on your balcony, or a robin hanging from the outside fence. An initiative in the UK is encouraging others to start their day by sharing bird images from their homes on social media under the hashtag #BreakfastBirdwatch. A similar campaign, #BirdingatHome, has taken off in Australia.

Aside from a DIY chore that will keep little ones homebound for a while, a bird feeder can also attract feathered friends to your property. All you want is bird seed, cooking fats, and a pineapple or coconut. don’t worry if you don’t have grass; You can also hang the feeder with a piece of string on a window or balcony door.

Another way to achieve local biodiversity is to provide shelter for insects. Again, you don’t necessarily want a garden. You can make the design as large or small as you want, depending on whether it’s for a small patio, patio or balcony. Wooden pallets, bricks, dried leaves, straw and other herbal fabrics will help you get started.

Gardening can ward off anxiety and our moods, so why not use your time at the lockout to plant brightly colored vegetables or flowers? Lavender, thyme, sage, and other insect-friendly plants may also attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees. If you don’t have a lawn, you can still grow plants indoors. Discover the home delivery features of garden centers.

Author: Natalie Muller

While the Internet can be a source of relief and convenience for those who have suicidal thoughts, experts also warn of the harm that certain social media content can cause.

The TikTok video sharing app has been criticized in recent days after a video of an obvious suicide began circulating and then spread to other social media platforms.

TikTok, which is basically used through young users, said he sought to delete the video, which would have been posted for the first time on Facebook. Parents and schools got warnings about the content, with reports from young social media users who felt traumatized after seeing that.

Similar videos have given the impression that other sites added Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, which led social media giants to take steps to oppose disturbing content.

Read more: Mental fitness, a developing challenge for European adolescents: WHO

There is no single cause of suicide. For those suffering from depression and suicidal ideation, the message from the experts is clear: you are not alone.

“It is vital to offer contact and an appointment with the affected user and that touch,” said Barbara Schneider, who is also the lead medical officer for the addiction-related disease branch at the LVR clinic in Cologne. “Also, if you find that it is not enough, or if you think it is insufficient, ask for additional help. “

Even in times of physical estating, it’s to consult with others who may have difficulties and ask them questions directly about it.

“What other people in general probably know is that assistance is possible,” he added.

If you suffer from severe emotional tension or suicidal thoughts, feel free to seek professional help. You can find data on where to locate such help, no matter where in the world you live, on this website: https://www. befrienders. org/

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