Introduction
Suicide is one of the most critical risks for the well-being of the present-day world population. Its increasing rates allow considering this factor as a priority for healthcare providers and policymakers (Twenge et al., 2019). Meanwhile, this indicator is not universal and varies depending on personal circumstances. Scholars claim that the differences in this regard are mainly conditional upon the affected persons’ age (Simons et al., 2019). Therefore, it is vital to thoroughly examine people’s attitudes towards this negative phenomenon and consider the existing treatment and prevention programs to gain a better understanding of the essential underlying processes.
The Perception of Suicide by Society
The first aspect is society’s views on the attempts of suicide committed by the representatives of various population groups. They are primarily formed under the influence of age as it determines the perception of more significant risks for people aged 18-49 (Simons et al., 2019). This situation is explained by the fact that other individual suicide risk factors are seemingly less critical compared to the above condition (Simons et al., 2019). Moreover, the screening in the hospital setting among the patients who were reported to have attempted suicide shows that the evidence is more apparent in younger people rather than their older counterparts (Simons et al., 2019). The former category tends to be more impulsive, has referrals to mental health specialists, and is recommended for psychiatric hospitalization (Simons et al., 2019). In addition, they have more frequent cases of depression and psychological distress (Twenge et al., 2019). From this perspective, the existing beliefs in the susceptibility of youngsters to suicide are confirmed by the researchers. These outcomes positively correlate with the societal tendency to attribute the problem to adolescents while neglecting the older population or considering their risks insignificant.
Treatment and Prevention Programs
The above considerations lead to the necessity to apply practical methods for treatment after an attempted suicide as well as generalized prevention programs. These initiatives differ depending on personal circumstances while being similar in terms of the instruments suitable for addressing the task. Thus, the planning of care for people following the suicide attempts is based on the assessment of other conditions, which can possibly contribute to a negative outcome. For example, in the case of schizophrenia, the prescription is clozapine since it is recommended for reducing the corresponding risks (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, n.d.). In other situations, the possible options are cognitive behavior therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy, while the latter is mostly applicable to patients with borderline personality disorder (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, n.d.). As for preventing initiatives, they can be setting-based, education-oriented, or more specific (Platt & Niederkrotenthaler, 2020). For example, the programs attributed to the first category are implemented in schools or in the workplace. In turn, educational interventions are primarily suitable for healthcare practitioners for increasing their awareness, and they are complemented by restrictions to potentially hazardous locations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the difference in the perceptions of suicide by society in terms of the age of the affected persons is conditional upon the presence of apparent symptoms in young people. It is complemented by the lack of thereof in the elderly population, and this fact contributes to the seemingly higher risks for adolescents, whereas it is not confirmed by research. The only emphasis is on the varying manifestations of this phenomenon rather than statistically proved factors determining the susceptibility to it. The attempts of suicide are generally addressed by hospital workers, who develop treatment as per one’s present conditions, which complicate their situations. In addition, the preventive measures include education, restrictions, and setting-based programs, which allow eliminating the risks.
References
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (n.d.). Treatment. Web.
Platt, S., & Niederkrotenthaler, T. (2020). Suicide prevention programs.Crisis, 41(1), S99-S124. Web.
Simons, K., Van Orden, K., Conner, K. R., & Bagge, C. (2019). Age differences in suicide risk screening and management prior to suicide attempts.The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 27(6), 604-608. Web.
Twenge, J. M., Cooper, A. B., Joiner, T. E., Duffy, M. E., & Binau, S. G. (2019). Age, period, and cohort trends in mood disorder indicators and suicide-related outcomes in a nationally representative dataset, 2005–2017.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 128(3), 185-199. Web.