Mental Health
Email Interview Dr. Dan Reidenberg, Managing Director, National Council for suicide prevention, USA.
Email Interview Dr. Dan Reidenberg, Managing Director, National Council for suicide prevention, USA.
Recording instructions: Please speak loudly, … clearly, … and slowly… taking a small breath between each word as it has a cascading effect on the microphone. Please sit up erect, spine upright, and chin parallel to
Recording instructions: Please speak loudly, … clearly, … and slowly… taking a small breath between each word as it has a cascading effect on the microphone. Please sit up erect, spine upright, and chin parallel to
1. Which countries / states / regions count the highest number of suicides? Which developed country and which developing country harbours the greatest number of suicides… statistically speaking?
1. Which countries / states / regions count the highest number of suicides? Which developed country and which developing country harbours the greatest number of suicides… statistically speaking?
The places where suicide occurs most frequently are rural areas in the world. 78% of suicides are in low and middle income countries. Here is a link to the map of suicides in the world. The 3rd link will show you highest/lowest by regions: (Sri Lanka, Lithuania are highest, Barbados is lowest). http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/ http://gamapserver.who.int/gho/interactive_charts/mental_health/suicide_rates/atlas.html http://www.who.int/gho/mental_health/suicide_rates_crude/en/
The places where suicide occurs most frequently are rural areas in the world. 78% of suicides are in low and middle income countries. Here is a link to the map of suicides in the world. The 3rd link will show you highest/lowest by regions: (Sri Lanka, Lithuania are highest, Barbados is lowest). http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/ http://gamapserver.who.int/gho/interactive_charts/mental_health/suicide_rates/atlas.html http://www.who.int/gho/mental_health/suicide_rates_crude/en/
2. What are the primary psychological factors that trigger suicidal thoughts and actions?
2. What are the primary psychological factors that trigger suicidal thoughts and actions?
Mood disorders such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and psychotic disorders. Substance abuse added onto these increased the risk of suicidal behaviours.
Mood disorders such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and psychotic disorders. Substance abuse added onto these increased the risk of suicidal behaviours.
3. How much do socio cultural factors affect occurrence of suicide?
3. How much do socio cultural factors affect occurrence of suicide?
That varies, but it definitely plays a role in suicide. When you add socio-cultural factors to biological factors, you have much higher risk of suicide.
That varies, but it definitely plays a role in suicide. When you add socio-cultural factors to biological factors, you have much higher risk of suicide.
4. Would you say there are any particular communities that are more vulnerable to suicide? … like say people in technology companies driven by a stressful deadline / delivery mode that is the benchmark of the industry?
4. Would you say there are any particular communities that are more vulnerable to suicide? … like say people in technology companies driven by a stressful deadline / delivery mode that is the benchmark of the industry?
People in the media, particularly filmmakers, photographers and advertising professionals, are very vulnerable to suicidal thoughts. Please share your thoughts. Are people in hedonistic industry like say fashion industry models or actors more vulnerable to suicidal thoughts and suicide or is it a myth? Occupational issues vary globally, but interpersonal stressors, from education or occupation, increase risk of suicide. Males are more at risk than females. People in the middle ages and seniors are more at risk than children or youth.
People in the media, particularly filmmakers, photographers and advertising professionals, are very vulnerable to suicidal thoughts. Please share your thoughts. Are people in hedonistic industry like say fashion industry models or actors more vulnerable to suicidal thoughts and suicide or is it a myth? Occupational issues vary globally, but interpersonal stressors, from education or occupation, increase risk of suicide. Males are more at risk than females. People in the middle ages and seniors are more at risk than children or youth.
5. Mental health professionals opine that bad parenting skills are the primary driver / cause of suicidal thoughts in abused people who are the most vulnerable group to suicide. What is your take on this? How can parents / adults be counselled for responsible and sensitive parenting?
5. Mental health professionals opine that bad parenting skills are the primary driver / cause of suicidal thoughts in abused people who are the most vulnerable group to suicide. What is your take on this? How can parents / adults be counselled for responsible and sensitive parenting?
I’ve never heard that bad parenting skills are the primary driver/cause of suicidal thoughts in abused people. We know that those who are abused or neglected have a higher risk of suicide and higher death rates than those of the general population, but that is not driven by bad parenting skills, it is influenced by abuse. It is very difficult to counsel or train people in parenting, as that is a personal choice. What we can do is help parents understand how to deal with their own stresses, limitations, their children’s developmental stages and needs.
I’ve never heard that bad parenting skills are the primary driver/cause of suicidal thoughts in abused people. We know that those who are abused or neglected have a higher risk of suicide and higher death rates than those of the general population, but that is not driven by bad parenting skills, it is influenced by abuse. It is very difficult to counsel or train people in parenting, as that is a personal choice. What we can do is help parents understand how to deal with their own stresses, limitations, their children’s developmental stages and needs.
6. The blue whale challenge is presently causing concern across the globe. Does parental guidance for internet surfing serve as an effective deterrent at all? What kind of media / internet policing would you advise? What kind of outreach is necessary to impress vulnerable teenagers against such dangerous online engagement?
6. The blue whale challenge is presently causing concern across the globe. Does parental guidance for internet surfing serve as an effective deterrent at all? What kind of media / internet policing would you advise? What kind of outreach is necessary to impress vulnerable teenagers against such dangerous online engagement?
As a society how are we to combat these increasingly virtual but very real threats to society? Parents should be encouraged to talk with their children about online safety and to check their children’s online activity. Parents monitoring of these behaviours may help reduce the incidence of youth getting preyed upon by ill-intended people.
As a society how are we to combat these increasingly virtual but very real threats to society? Parents should be encouraged to talk with their children about online safety and to check their children’s online activity. Parents monitoring of these behaviours may help reduce the incidence of youth getting preyed upon by ill-intended people.
7. How can the society and vulnerable groups socially inoculate themselves against suicidal thoughts or actions?
7. How can the society and vulnerable groups socially inoculate themselves against suicidal thoughts or actions?
That’s not really possible. The best we can do is raise awareness of the issue, help people know the risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs, but you can’t inoculate someone from suicide like you can vaccinate against a disease.
That’s not really possible. The best we can do is raise awareness of the issue, help people know the risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs, but you can’t inoculate someone from suicide like you can vaccinate against a disease.
8. What kind of socio economic and socio cultural or psycho social infrastructure is necessary for suicide prevention?
8. What kind of socio economic and socio cultural or psycho social infrastructure is necessary for suicide prevention?
Would the US based National Council for suicide prevention recommend any such psycho social infrastructure to the Governments for affirmative proactive action by governments and World bodies like the WHO and EU etc?
Would the US based National Council for suicide prevention recommend any such psycho social infrastructure to the Governments for affirmative proactive action by governments and World bodies like the WHO and EU etc?
9. What kind of socio cultural and socio economic mechanisms are necessary as a psycho social infrastructure to prevent suicide? Governments and private foundations must begin funding suicide prevention research and other programs on a wide scale, using evidence based programs.
9. What kind of socio cultural and socio economic mechanisms are necessary as a psycho social infrastructure to prevent suicide? Governments and private foundations must begin funding suicide prevention research and other programs on a wide scale, using evidence based programs.
Malini Shankar and Shreya Giria
Malini Shankar and Shreya Giria
This interview was facilitated by the World Health Organisation of the United Nations
This interview was facilitated by the World Health Organisation of the United Nations