The relationship between depression and suicide from a psychological perspective

Is there a strong link between depression and suicide?

Many psychologists agree that the vast majority of people suffer from depression at some point in their lives..

This is not surprising given the pace of life in today's society, in which we are vulnerable to loneliness, rejection, economic difficulties... However, it is relatively common to confuse a depressive disorder with temporary episodes of sadness, such as Dysthymia.

Depression and suicide: investigating their clinical relationship

It is often observed that seasonal changes give rise to certain symptoms directly or indirectly linked to depressive disorder: for example, the spring depression is the name given to the brief depressive episode that many people suffer from.

The treatment of depression is based on the indications and guidelines that the psychologist puts on the table so that the patient can overcome his or her depressive disorder. There are also a good variety of natural antidepressants, certainly unknown, which have properties that alleviate the symptoms and offer a complementary help to the psychological treatment.

It is not uncommon in our time to hear that someone has committed suicide, and to detect that behind this tragic event is a major depression. What is the link between depression and suicide?

The two main causes of depression are, on the one hand, the absence of hope or optimism for the futureand, on the other hand, the loss of autonomy with regard to one's life and feelings.

Since depression causes the hopes placed in our possibilities to weaken, reality is altered, to the point that the person with depression rejects the help of family and friends, as well as the attention of a qualified professional.

It is for this reason, in addition to the tendency of people with depression to focus more on the negative aspects of life, that they cannot conceive of a future for themselves.that they cannot conceive of a future beyond their own death.

It is at that moment when suicidal ideas are generated. The only treatment in these cases is strict follow-up therapy focused on regaining confidence, hope and control over life and emotions.

Symptoms associated with depression and suicide

There are a total of three symptoms of depression that are fundamentally linked to suicide, and they are the following:

• Increased neglect of self-care.

• Insomnia, difficulty resting.

• Cognitive impairment.

Treatment of depression linked to suicide

When the therapist chooses the most appropriate treatment for cases of depression with risk of suicide, he must take into account that the patient with depression is usually skeptical of the possible solutions to his problems, both material or emotional (external to his control) and psychological.

The treatment to be followed may vary according to the type or degree of depression that the patient presents. For example, if we are dealing with a serious case, it is highly recommended that the patient be hospitalized immediately because the risk of suicide is very high.. It is important to remember that the professional has the power to make this decision.

Major depression or severe depression will require both psychological and pharmacological treatment to help the patient control the anxiety and discomfort that is usually associated with the depressive symptoms.

However, if the case is mild, the most advisable therapy is usually a psychological follow-up to help the patient overcome the disorder.