Experts say experiencing persistent feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and helplessness can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression
Reality and television actor Nitin Chauhan, who died by suicide earlier this week, is said to have been battling serious depression due to lack of work. Police said their preliminary investigation revealed Chauhan, 35, was under serious stress over and allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using a rope in his flat.
Police said the wife and daughter of Chauhan, a participant in Dadagiri season 2, MTV Splitsvilla and Crime Patrol, found him unconscious and rushed him to a nearby private hospital where he was declared dead. “During the preliminary inquiry, we learned that Chauhan was not getting work for the past few years and was in depression because of this,” Ajay Afle, senior inspector at Dindoshi police station in Mumbai told reports.
What is suicidal depression?
Experts say experiencing persistent feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and helplessness can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. Millions of people across the world live with this mental health condition. While many people learn to manage daily life with symptoms of depression, there is one that requires immediate attention - suicidal ideation.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death across the world – with major depression being a significant risk factor.
Experts say clinical depression is a mood disorder linked to a combination of factors like physical brain structure, brain chemistry, hormones, or genetics. When someone has clinical depression with suicidal ideation as a symptom, it means that they are experiencing suicidal thoughts as part of their overall health symptoms. A few signs and symptoms of this condition when a person is planning to cause self-harm, which you must always take serious note of, include:
- Complete lack of interest in usual activities
- Changes in sleep patterns and appetite
- Feeling hopeless
- Feeling sad
- Feeling restless
- Difficulty in concentrating, thinking, or making decisions
- Either you feeling or anyone else talking about wanting to die
- Expressing no reason to go on living
- Withdrawal from friends, family, and social interactions
- Giving away personal items
- Participating in excessive alcohol or drug use
- Aggressive behaviour
- Saying goodbye to friends, family, and loved ones
- Increase in anxious or agitated behaviour
Common risk factors for developing suicidal depression
Experts believe risk factors play an important role in understanding suicide. That is why it is important to always have open and direct communication with someone if you think they are having thoughts of suicide and to take an extra step to notice and connect them to help. With that in mind, here are some of the common risk factors:
- Family history of suicide
- Substance misuse
- Mood disorders
- Chronic illness
- Previous suicide attempt
- Significant losses or other sudden stressors
- History of trauma or family violence, which includes physical or sexual abuse
- Your age, especially being ages 15 to 24 or over 60 years
Ways to treat and prevent suicidal depression
Doctors say there are many ways to treat clinical depression with suicide ideation, but all of these vary based on the severity and individual factors. While the symptoms may be through treatment and some people see a decrease in frequency or intensity, it may not be the case with others.
A few evidence-based treatments like dialectic behavioural therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy help with both depressive symptoms and suicide. Anti-depressant medications are effective, such as:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Selective serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors
Along with the support of a mental health professional, it is also recommended for a person affected by the condition to take steps to stay healthy, connected, and proactive about their mental health needs, like:
- Practicing self-care with regular sleep and exercise
- Having open and honest conversations about what you or someone else with depression with suicidal ideation may be experiencing
Learning and recognizing the warning signs of depression with suicidal ideation.
If you are battling depression or feelings of self harm, do speak with a profession.
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