Teenage suicide. Prevent and defeat
The reasons for suicidal behavior of children and adolescents, specialists see, first of all, in the features characteristic of this age: increased aggressiveness and conflict, protest behavior, vulnerability, increased feeling dignity, emotional stability, shyness, combined with maximalism.
The possibility of child and adolescent suicide is especially high during the age crisis (from 11 to 16 years), when the teenager begins to realize himself as a person, as an equal member of society and family. Because of this, there are often conflicts with parents, which leads to a loss of mutual contact, the formation of alienation. Suicidal thoughts and fantasies in adolescents are quite frequent, and their implementation can contribute to seemingly insignificant events, which the emotional instability and impulsivity of the child are favorable.
According to statistics, the greatest number of suicides is committed in the fall (in October) and in the spring (in April, May). Suicide practically does not occur in children under 8 years of age. By gender, boys are more likely to commit suicide, and 92% of children and adolescents who have committed suicide have never been registered with a psychiatrist.
The study of the problem of suicide among young people shows that in a number of cases, adolescents decided to commit suicide in order to to draw the attention of parents and teachers to their problems and thus expressed a protest against callousness. The concept "death" in childhood is usually perceived very abstractly, as something temporary, similar to a dream, not always related to one's own personality. It can be concluded that children and many teenagers, committing suicide, do not directly commit suicide. do not expect a fatal outcome. Unlike adults, they do not have clear boundaries between a true suicide attempt and a demonstratively blackmailing autoaggressive act.
Adults are responsible for any suicidal behavior of a child!Therefore, all hints of suicide should be treated with all due respect. earnestness. As soon as a teenager has a reduced mood and other signs of a depressive state, it is necessary to immediately, immediately, take measures to help the child get out of this state.
First, it is necessary to talk to the child, ask him questions about his condition, talk about the future, build plans. These conversations must be positive. It is necessary to "inspire" the child with an optimistic mood, to instill confidence, to show that he is able to achieve his goals. Do not accuse the child of "always dissatisfied" and "peevishness", it is better to show him the positive aspects and resources of his personality. Do not compare it with other guys – more successful, cheerful, good-natured. These comparisons will exacerbate the teenager's already low self-esteem. You can compare only the teenager of today with the teenager of yesterday and set up a positive image of the teenager of tomorrow.
Secondly, to do new things with the child. Learn something new every day, do things that you've never done before. did. Bring variety to everyday life. Sign up for a gym or at least get into the habit of doing a morning workout gymnastics, plot new walking routes, go on a fascinating weekend excursion, invent new ones ways to perform household chores, visit the cinema, exhibitions, do general cleaning in the house. You can start it a pet – a dog, cat, hamster, parrot, or fish. Caring for a defenseless creature can mobilize a child and set it up in a positive way.
Third, the teenager must observe the daily routine. It is necessary to make sure that he gets a good night's sleep, normally he ate, spent enough time in the fresh air, and engaged in outdoor sports. It is necessary to maintain the physical condition of the teenager during this period.
And, fourth, seek advice from a specialist-a psychologist, a psychiatrist.
On the territory of the Lipetsk region, highly qualified assistance is organized in the form of a round-the-clock "Helpline" 48-11-00, the service includes a psychiatrist and a medical psychologist.
Unified all-Russian children's helpline number: 8-800-2000-122
Medical psychologist
Lipetsk Regional Neuropsychiatric Hospital
Lyudmila Borisovna Stepchenkova
