Mental Conditions Experienced by People Who Suicide

The determination of “Suicide prevention” as the theme of World Mental Health Day by the World Health Organization (WHO) has fundamental urgency. Based on WHO data, suicide causes nearly 800,000 deaths every day, with one earth creature dying every 40 seconds as a result of the act. Furthermore, for every individual who dies by suicide, it is estimated that there are as many as 25 other individuals who attempt a similar act (Nurchayanti, 2019).

The term "suicide" was first introduced in the 17th century in the book Religio Medici by Sir Thomas Browne. It comes from the Latin words Sui (self) and Caedere (to kill). The term reflects the distinction between killing oneself and killing others. According to the American Psychiatric Association, suicide is an act of an individual killing themselves, often caused by depression or other mental illnesses. Globally, suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds, with 79% of suicides occurring in low- and middle-income countries.

In Indonesia, the number of officially reported suicide cases is reach 670 cases in 2023 (Indonesian Suicide Prevention Association-INASP, 2022). The actions of the National Police in responding to this situation can be seen in 2023, where they took action against 451 suicides. By calculating the average, there are at least 3 people who commit suicide every day (Pusiknas Bareskrim Polri, 2023).

Sumber: Canva

Mental health conditions that are generally associated with an increased risk of suicide are depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, and schizophrenia.

• Depression. Becky Wanjiku Wanyoike (2014) states a mental illness called depression is typified by symptoms like melancholy, disinterest, guilt, and irregular eating or sleeping patterns.
• Anxiety Disorders. A group of mental health conditions known as anxiety disorders are defined by excessive and ongoing worry, fear, and anxiety that have a substantial negative impact on day-to-day functioning.
• Traumatic. An individual's susceptibility to suicidal behavior may increase as a result of traumatic experiences that cause mental harm and have a lasting detrimental impact on their mental and emotional health.
• Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that encompasses cognitive impairment, perceptual abnormalities, and positive and negative symptoms. According to the dopamine hypothesis, positive symptoms of schizophrenia may be caused by an excess of dopamine in specific brain regions.

Suicide is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon, involving a combination of biological, psychological, and social/factor. Most people who die of suicide suffer from mental disorders, but not all individuals with soul disorders die their own hands. The risk of suicide is influenced by various factors, including personality traits, cognitive factors, social factors, and life stressors.

It is hoped that this article can make people pay more attention to their mental condition.