|
Luiz Carlos Formiga e
Lívia B. Formiga |
|
|
|
There is always
a tomorrow |
In 1994 the
"Suicide
Prevention
Program Yellow
Ribbon" was
born. Fifty
point nine
percent of the
patients were
suffering from
mental disorder
and made use of
illegal
substances. At
that time, most
of the
therapeutic
communities were
maintained by
religious
groups. Today,
there is a
greater number
of research and
academic
discussions on
the
interconnection
of religious,
spiritual and
mental health.
Religious
entities are
important
resources of the
community
helping out in
drug treatments.
If a religious
community is
important in
giving a drug
addict some
hope, then it
can also help in
the Yellow
Septembers. To
work on this
matter can be
very important
to public
health, if we
take into
consideration
the social
assistance
purpose of
religions (1).
Suicidal
behavior is an
expression that
covers several
phenomena
connected to
suicide,
according to its
manifestations.
This term is
used to describe
the thoughts and
actions that
indicate
suicidal
ideation, its
risk, the
planning, the
suicide attempt
and suicide,
itself.
Suicide is a
public health
problem,
epidemiologically
relevant and
complex, for
which there is
no single cause
or a single
reason. It
results from a
mixed
interaction of
biological,
genetic,
psychological,
social,
cultural,
environmental
and spiritual
factors. Thus,
it is difficult
to explain why
some people when
suffering from
crucial pain end
up by committing
suicide, whilst
others in the
same situation
don’t.
Sabrina L. da
Silva and Egle
R. Kohlrausch
are the authors
of
“Pre-hospital
care to the
individual with
suicidal
behavior: an
integrative
review" (2).
The purpose of
this study was
to identify the
procedures of
the nursing
staff. The
authors arrived
to the
conclusion that
it is very
important that
the nursing
staff,
administrators
and society
itself focus on
this subject in
order to improve
not only the
care but to also
better
understand the
desire of death.
Suicidal
ideation is
expressed by
thoughts of
death that lead
to the risk of
life, even
though the fatal
action may not
take place.
A study shows
that the idea of
suicide was more
frequent among
adult women,
from 30 to 44
years of age;
also in those
living alone;
among
Spiritists;
and in those
with a higher
income. Planning
occurs when the
person mentally
organizes
strategies on
how to take its
life.
When Spiritists
become aware
that there is
hope because the
Spirit is
immortal, then
there is an
uncomfortable
and apparent
contradiction
when we see
Spiritists
mentioned as one
of the
preponderant
groups regarding
ideation, plan
and suicide
attempt
(3).
However, in a
country with
such a
territorial
extension, we
believe that we
should not
generalize this
result, since it
was obtained in
a survey based
on the
population of
Campinas, a city
in the state of
Sao Paulo (4).
Nevertheless,
the discomfort
will not
diminish, even
if we consider
that among this
group of
Spiritist
patients -
followers of
Allan Kardec -
other
spiritualists
were included
too. It is fully
known that
suicide is the
result of a
complex
interplay of
factors, where
one can see the
influence of
social and
cultural rights
too, and this
reminds us of
the supporters
of the so called
“twin towers”,
who pressured by
prejudice, have
difficulty in
integrating
themselves into
society in
general (5).
According to the
report of the
World Health
Organization, 10
to 20 million
people worldwide
attempt suicide.
Brazil is among
the ten
countries with
the highest
absolute number
of suicides.
The causes
identified for
suicide involve
social factors
such as the
inability for
people to
integrate into
society, while
the struggle
between two
instinctive
drives occurs:
the life drive
and the death
drive, resulting
in suicidal
behavior,
representing the
final conflict
between the
desire to live
and the desire
to die.
The word suicide
has the meaning
of the action
that leads a
person to
voluntary death.
Suicide
represents the
tentative to
solve a problem
that is causing
an intense
suffering,
associated with
unmet needs,
feelings of
hopelessness and
helplessness,
conflict between
survival and
unbearable
stress,
narrowing of
alternatives and
search for
escape, showing
signs of
distress. Thus,
suicidal
behavior
represents a
period of
crisis, featured
by
destabilization,
disruption,
disturbance,
conflicts and
disorder, and it
is considered a
psychiatric
emergency.
In the work of
Silva &
Kohlrausch, 32
nursing
interventions –
regarding the
care of a person
with suicidal
behavior – are
mentioned.
Prevention
measures,
listening,
guidance to the
family and home
visits have the
purpose of
providing full
attention to the
user.
Patients treated
in an emergency
should receive
clinical care,
but also special
attention
regarding their
psychiatric
problem, aiming
at a careful
action to
suicidal
behavior. In
this sense, it
is most
important that
the patient be
referred to the
health team, as
well as family
and social
support
provided, this
considering that
previous
attempts of
suicide are an
indicator that
it will be
accomplished.
Listening is as
important as the
physical
examination of
the patient, and
this means being
committed,
interested and
linked to the
person, with all
its complexity
and changes.
Thus, one must
go for qualified
listening and
communication.
It is necessary
not only to
listen to the
patient, but
also listen to
the family,
which needs to
be looked at,
heard, accepted
and well guided,
so that it can
become a support
for those that
tried to commit
suicide.
The attitude of
understanding,
and of
no-judgment with
those, who
suffer from some
psychological
distress, gives
place to a
relationship of
safeness and
trust between
the nurse -
patient -
family,
qualifying the
service, and
adding value to
care.
We must
emphasize that
suicidal
behavior goes
through an
intention scale,
from ideation,
planning, until
it reaches
suicide itself.
There are signs
of this behavior
that can be
observed and
action at the
right moment can
prevent death.
In the 1990s,
many studies
showed that
suicide was
increasing. In
addition, other
studies show a
frequent
association
between suicide
and mental
illness,
especially
depression,
alcoholism,
bipolar
disorder,
schizophrenia
and also
impulsive and
aggressive
personality
traits.
Based on this,
the view of the
World Health
Organization
changed and it
started to
encourage
countries to
develop
preventive
measures. The
latest WHO
report, 2014,
points out that
83% of the
countries have
succeeded in
reducing these
numbers. There
is a minority of
17%, where
suicide
continues to
increase. Brazil
is among these
countries and we
find Spiritists
among those who
made the choice
of suicide.
The differences
in these
countries are
based on the
preventive
measures that
have been
encouraged,
especially the
training of
health
professionals
and other
professionals,
who are on the
front line, such
as
teachers
and
religious
ministers.
A basic rule is
to take someone
seriously when
he talks about
suicide, and
also whenever a
young person
starts talking
more about death
and accesses
death sites.
Nery Jose Botega,
a psychiatrist
and professor at
Unicamp, defends
the importance
of awareness
about suicide
and says that
everyone can be
involved in
prevention. He
warns, however,
that we are not
inclined to
look, observe,
interpret and
act regarding
the suicide risk
signals (6)
With the good
results of the
treatment, the
person will
become aware
that there is
always a
tomorrow, that
it can fight,
and wait,
because a
beautiful day
will come. There
is always a
tomorrow, for
those who live
in suffering, so
it is worthwhile
waiting. And
when that day
arrives, the
person will see
that what
happened was not
in vain. Then,
when illness is
left behind, it
can finally say:
I am happy!
(7)
When we are
aware, we give
importance to
the warning
signs,
so the
population must
be made aware.
If more aware,
it starts to
understand that
the problem
exists and that
it can happen to
someone near. We
need to develop
our ability to
realize that a
person is at
risk and mainly
be willing to
listen to her
with no-judgement.
To pour a series
of moral or
religious rules
does not help.
Indeed, the
person needs to
feel that it is
being heard and
understood.
Isolated people
fail to call, to
make an
appointment and
to go to a
health service.
You will need to
drive the person
there and
accompany her to
a professional,
who can help
her.
Jesus left marks
and signs.
In the 1960s,
the psychiatrist
I. Stevenson
studied in India
cases of
children, who
referred with
accuracy to
events, places
and people, who
lived in an
alleged previous
life. Thirty
years after
numerous
studies, in
1990, a
Professor at the
University of
Virginia found
that signs are
important to
think of
reincarnation
hypothesis, as
35% of the
children, who
said to remember
to have lived
before, showed
signs, spots or
birth defects
where they had
received fatal
injuries in the
past life.
Stevenson, I. -
Reincarnation
and Biology: a
contribution to
the etiology of
birthmarks and
birth defects.
Volume I –
Birthmarks, and
Volume II -
Birth Defects
and other
anomalies.
Westport:
Praeger. 1997
(8)
There are times
when we need
hope and
support, as it
happened in
Emmaus, with
Christ's
followers. Then
they told how
Jesus appeared
to them after
the crucifixion;
how He
accompanied them
and how they
recognized Him
when he broke
the bread. (Luke
24: 13)
Livia, the
poetess, and the
song There is
always a
tomorrow, by
Tito (7.9), tell
us about that
hope that came
through the
monitoring of
Jesus.
Winter...
Long, cold
nights,
withheld
feelings.
Inside me I look
for answers.
The stillness,
the silence...
Intuition, and
awareness,
the digesting of
the experiences.
I learned,
rebuilt myself.
I keep in me
strength and the
wisdom of the
bear
that hibernates
to resurface in
the spring.
The morning
comes and the
sun shines now.
Light follows
darkness.
Love grew in the
quietness of the
heart
day and night
become equal.
Leaves appear in
empty branches.
From the dry
ground
multicolored
buds bloom.
Fragrances
inebriate the
air...
It is time to
again start,
rise, grow...
Recognize the
spiritual nature
of the being...
Like the wolf,
explore new
routes, new
ideas.
Eliminate
weaknesses and
negative
thoughts...
Back to the
tribe and teach
the moonlight.
Be generous like
spring.
Be free, find
the truth of
life.
Seek new
horizons, new
attitudes,
new interests,
new life
Be happy...
References:
(1)
http://orebate-jorgehessen.blogspot.com.br/2015/09/espiritismo-suicidio-e-usuarios-de.html
http://paespirita.blogspot.com.br/2015/09/espiritismo-suicidio-e-usuarios-de.html
https://issuu.com/merchita/docs/espiritismo_suicidio_y_usuarios_de_?e=8707178/30380106
http://orebate-jorgehessen.blogspot.com.br/2016/07/foi-incrivel.html
http://paespirita.blogspot.com.br/2016/07/foi-incrivel.html
https://issuu.com/merchita/docs/fue_increible_dr_luiz_carlos_formig
(2)
http://pepsic.bvsalud.org/pdf/smad/v12n2/pt_07.pdf
(3)
http://pepsic.bvsalud.org/pdf/smad/v12n2/pt_07.pdf
(4)
Botega NJ,
Marin-Leon L,
Oliveira HB
Barros MBA,
Silva VF,
Dagalarrondo P.
Prevalence of
suicidal
ideation, plan
and Attempted
Suicide: A
population-based
survey in
Campinas, São
Paulo, Brazil.
Cad. Public
Health. 2009; 25
(12): 2632-8.
(5)
http://www.aeradoespirito.net/ArtigosLCF/TOR_GEM_AFRO-BR_PREC-EST-MID_E_ORD_JUR_LCF.html
(6) goo.gl/AawifN
(7) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65hr6R2L4ZI
(8) goo.gl/8uuNyd
(9) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65hr6R2L4ZI
Lívia B. Formiga
is
Physician in Rio
de Janeiro.
|