Maria del Mar Jodar: We have noticed an increase in cases of suicidal ideation

Psychologist Maria del Mar Jodar talks about adolescent mental health in the face of the pandemic

In just a few months, the pandemic has had significant effects on the quality of life of practically all human societies on the planet; however, this does not mean that all segments of the population have suffered the COVID-19 crisis in the same way.

In this regard, age is an aspect to be taken into account, age is an aspect to be taken into account when taking social and health measures to protect the most vulnerable.. Adolescents are among those population groups most exposed to the negative effects of the pandemic, and that is why during the months of the coronavirus crisis, psychotherapeutic care centers have adapted their activity to respond to this exceptional context.

We will talk about it with the psychologist María del Mar Jódar García, a professional of the PsicoAlmería team with years of experience in the care of adolescents. with years of experience in the attention of adolescents.

Interview with María del Mar Jódar García: the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of adolescents

María del Mar Jódar García is a Health Psychologist expert in cognitive-behavioral therapy and Third Generation Therapies, as well as a member of the PsicoAlmería center.

Do you consider that adolescents are a particularly vulnerable segment of the population in the face of the coronavirus pandemic?

COVID-19 has meant a before and after for everyone. The situation we have been experiencing since the appearance of COVID-19 has led many people to experience psychological discomfort that they are not able to handle, seeing how their psychological health has worsened in a short period of time.

We have all experienced social isolation, but there are certain ages in which this phenomenon can be especially important.

In PsicoAlmería we have noticed an increase in cases of children who have difficulties relating to their peers, as well as eating disorders, suicidal ideation and self-harm.

With the objective data that we are receiving regarding the increase in the number of adolescents who come for consultation compared to the number before the pandemic, if we can consider that adolescents are a more vulnerable population and have been more affected by the pandemic.

What are the elements of this pandemic that you think have the greatest capacity to harm adolescent mental health?

The main elements that have had and have more capacity to damage the mental health of adolescents are their abrupt changes in routine, isolation from their peers in a physical academic context and the deficit of coping skills regarding adverse situations not expected in society (such as the pandemic caused by COVID).

What we are observing is that the changes in routine that adolescents have undergone with respect to the stage prior to the pandemic have caused changes and disorders related to sleep and eating, voluntary isolation and self-esteem.

Something that we at PsicoAlmería have also seen is that not having followed the programmed education has given rise to difficulties in studies in students who had not had problems until now. Often associated with those other changes we have discussed above that produce a decrease in mood and anxiety tolerance.

How has the pandemic affected adolescents?

Adolescence is an important period to develop socialization with peers and independence, not in vain, one of the characteristics of adolescence is the change to their peers as references to compare their reality or experiences.

Adolescents have experienced important changes in their routine, an important part of their life is the school / institute, being the main place where they socialize.

Research and data collection is still ongoing, but the general conclusions we see are that the pandemic has led to an increase in stress, pathological grief, depressive symptoms, irritability, insomnia, anxiety and fear. Depending on how much the context has changed us and the tools we have to cope with it can lead to different disorders and problems such as depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders or suicide.

And this is what is also being reflected in the data collected. In Spain, one of the most alarming data are those given by the ANAR Foundation, which indicate that calls from minors associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts have increased by 244.1%, 246.2% in the case of self-harm and 826.3% for eating disorders.

Is it known whether cases of suicide or attempted suicide in adolescents have increased in recent months?

Prior to confinement, suicide was already among one of the leading causes of unnatural death in Spain. Being more common as age increases. Thus, minors are considered to be less prone to suicide; however, during the confinement and the rest of the pandemic, there has been an increase in suicidal behaviors by adolescents not previously observed.

At PsicoAlmería, we have especially noted an increase in suicidal ideation and self-injury in adolescent cases. I would like to add that self-injury usually has an emotional management function and thoughts associated with taking one's own life do not mean that the person wants to commit suicide, however, they are indicative of a great discomfort that cannot be managed and should not be overlooked.

And while there is no prior behavior that is a clear indication of suicide, there are certain behaviors such as suicidal ideation, previous attempts or self-injury that correlate with an increased likelihood of suicide.

In addition, suicidal ideation accompanying suicide is much more common than suicide in all age ranges and especially in adolescents. There are also alarming data indicating a rise in suicidal ideation in adolescents, as well as in self-harm.

What psychopathologies common in young people may be more aggravated in the context of a coronavirus crisis?

As we have observed, adolescents, like children, are particularly vulnerable to change. They are constantly developing structures and functions, especially in the nervous system, which continues to develop at this stage.

And, in addition, on a personal level, each adolescent has a family and personal background, previous experiences, a surrounding socioeconomic situation, as well as material and emotional resources. These variables, especially for adolescents with previous psychopathologies, have been important in the aggravation or non-aggravation after the pandemic.

As for frequent previous psychopathologies that have been likely to worsen, we find anxiety disorders, especially social anxiety, mood disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders mostly related to fear of contamination and cleanliness, and eating disorders.

How should psychology adapt to support adolescents in the face of these kinds of health and social crises?

For years psychology and other health specialists have been warning of the importance of suicide intervention and prevention. Above all, greater support is needed at the political and social level, since in society it is often a taboo subject and the importance and repercussions of this problem are not reported.

In addition, there is a lack of resources for health professionals and teachers, in order to be able to coordinate it from high schools and primary care, where specific training in these problems is often lacking. It would be relevant to strengthen with new measures the environments that surround adolescents, and that in turn will provide us with new data to continue with the necessary research and to know which indicators may be associated.

And what should families do?

Suicide prevention is a team effort, where family members can play a very important and essential role.

The first step in preventing suicide is to detect it, we have already mentioned that there is no behavior that can predict a suicide attempt, however, we can be attentive to certain signs such as hopelessness and/or sadness, suicidal thoughts and/or verbalizations that indicate suicidal thoughts, writing goodbye notes, giving away valuable possessions, isolation, presence of sleep and appetite disorders, voluntary changes in their routines that indicate that they are not feeling well.

In these cases it is necessary to use empathy, to validate, to give support as opposed to overprotection and to provide professional help.

If we think that a family member is thinking of taking his or her own life, the first thing we can do is to offer our support and understanding. Many people are reluctant to talk about it because of the false idea that talking about suicide may increase the likelihood that they will commit suicide.

But the relief that is produced by being able to talk about it, inhibits suicidal behaviors, it does not encourage them, in addition, knowing what you are going through means that you are no longer alone facing a situation from which you do not know how to get out.

Sometimes people who are going through a situation like this, are not able to tell the people who are closest to them, behind this there may be different reasons such as feeling ashamed of what is happening to them or not wanting the people around them worry about them, therefore, it is advisable to give them the option of talking to a professional in a safe space.

My colleagues at PsicoAlmería and I, through face-to-face and online sessions, emphasize the importance of providing that safe space in which the teenager can express themselves comfortably, and therefore help them to overcome the situation they are going through.