Suicides: “I’m worried after the crisis”

Fears that the number of suicides will skyrocket during the pandemic have not materialized. That was one of the findings of lectures and an expert discussion on the occasion of yesterday’s World Suicide Prevention Day in the Promenaden Galleries in Linz. Nevertheless, the specialists did not give the all-clear. Psychotherapist Marina Gottwald explained why: “I am worried after the crisis. We have also observed that the effect occurs with a certain delay when schools are closed. In our work we now see children and adolescents who we otherwise never see.” Because suddenly boys and girls also need support who live in a stable family environment, are well integrated socially and are good at school.

Many boys are desperate

“With advice on wire, the number of young people who have suicidal ideation has recently increased by 20 percent,” said Social Councilor Birgit Gerstorfer (SP) in the OÖN forum. She therefore advocated increasing particularly low-threshold offers. This increased need is also evident in telephone counseling. While adults are more likely to call the free emergency number 142, the young are on the Internet.

The head of the telephone counseling, Silvia Breitwieser, can determine the increased need for a specific figure: “The chat requests have increased fourfold. For example, self-harming behavior is currently a huge topic among young people.” Experts are there for young clients in the chat from 4 to 10 p.m. It is important to many of those affected that they remain anonymous. Because mental crises as well as the subject of suicide are still taboo.

According to Thomas Niederkrotenthaler from MedUni Vienna, it is extremely important to raise awareness of this issue. It is also necessary to identify risk groups, treat mental illnesses and provide close care to people after unsuccessful suicide attempts. Because ten percent of those who attempt suicide ultimately also die of suicide. Those people who have to do with the subject of suicide need to be trained particularly well. This includes not only health professions, but also emergency services such as fire brigade or police, teachers or pastors. There are at least 60 groups among these so-called gatekeepers.

Much can be done to avoid getting into a desperate situation in the first place. The key word in this context is “resilience”. The term describes psychological resilience and explains why some people endure situations that cause others to break down. The foundation stone for overcoming crises is laid in childhood up to the tenth birthday. But even later, people can work on this ability at any time. Primary Jörg Auer from the Kepler University Hospital Linz names the most important pillars of resilience:

• Acceptance of the crisis and the feelings associated with it
• Search for solutions
• Make ties
• Leaving victim role
• Stay optimistic
• To take responsibility
• Plan for the future

The subject of suicide is male

While, according to current studies, suicidal thoughts are particularly common among boys at almost 12 percent and particularly low among those over 70 years of age at 4.2 percent, the opposite picture emerges for actual suicides: because the highest suicide rate is still there older men – especially if they are left alone after their partner dies. Because women are often responsible for social events and men can often no longer find their way around on their own. “We have to look particularly closely at this group,” says Auer.

Suicides

• In 2020 1072 people committed suicide in Austria – this corresponds to about three people per day.
• Significantly more men as women take their own life and significantly more older people than younger people – over a third of all suicides in Austria are committed by people over 65.
• With the younger ones (up to approx. 30 years of age), suicide is the most common cause of death behind injuries and poisoning.
  The number of suicide attempts is ten to 30 times higher than the number of people who actually died by suicide.
• The hospice movement advocates clear legal regulation of the subject of “assisted suicide” by parliament. The aim must be to give people comprehensive advice on alternative offers and to put a stop to any pressure to commit suicide.