Monday (29/11) the Center for Public Mental Health again held a series of online lectures open to the public. The theme this time is “Suicide prevention”, an actual issue that often gets public attention but there is not much knowledge about how to prevent and deal with it.
This event takes place from 1.00 PM to 3.00 PM. This event was attended by 70 participants from students and the general public.
The first speaker at this event was Nurul Kusuma Hidayati M.Psi., psikolog, CPMH manager who is also active as a psychologist at the Psychology Consulting Unit (UKP) of the Faculty of Psychology UGM and at Gadjah Mada Medical Center (GMC) UGM. While the second speaker is Wirdatul Anisa, M.Psi., Psikolog, an active researcher at CPMH who is also active as a psychologist in the Unit Konsultasi Psikologi (UKP) of the Faculty of Psychology UGM and at the Badan Kepegawaian Pendidikan dan Pelatihan (BKPP) of Sleman Regency.
In this online lecture, Nurul and Anisa gave an explanation to the participants about the signs that must be understood as an indication that people have a suicidal motivation. From that explanation, the two presenters hoped that the participants would understand and be sensitive to indications of suicidal motivation from the people around them so that everyone could be a suicide deterrent.
In the initial presentation, Nurul explained factual data about suicide attempts in Indonesia. Of the 20 people who attempted suicide, one of them died by suicide. To stem the number of attempted suicides, Nurul emphasized that ideally everyone can provide first aid for psychological symptoms of attempted suicide.
“What is expected is not only psychologists, because when we talk about psychological first aid, it is hoped that all of them can become first aiders. It is hoped that all of them can become first aiders,” explained Nurul while explaining that this assistance can be done in various settings, for example in the community, education, or family.
Some things that can be observed by ordinary people that it can be a sign of people having motivation to commit suicide are seen in changes in behavior, mood, and appearance. For example, a person feels hopeless, meaningless and lonely. Some other examples are feelings of guilt, existence is a burden, and feelings of self-hatred.
“Then some distractions. Sleep disturbances, then later maybe eating disorders, you see. Those things might change. Then the most of these is the desire or desire to die. Pray for his life to be taken,” explained Nurul.
Furthermore, the second speaker, Anisa added that even though it was only a minor symptom and it was not necessarily a sign of an attempted suicide, it should still be a concern for all of us. Anisa advises us to be able to accompany OKBD (orang dengan kecenderungan bunuh diri) more closely to pay attention. Asking how things are and confirming his condition is also a very useful small business.
“So in taking this approach, even if it’s just a small suspicion, we still need to act immediately, I see. Was ngaruhke (confirm the real situation), asked how it was, then confirmed his condition. The status is strange or maybe the post, what’s going on and so on, “explained Anisa.
Dealing with OKBD requires good and flexible communication skills. We must not justify suicidal ideation and conversely, we must not blame people for it. Anisa explained that we can convince OKBD that there are many alternative paths that can be chosen other than suicide.
“So we can also convince him that that is, you can have thoughts like that. But that doesn’t mean it’s the only way to go. We can find other ways to deal with it,” explained Anisa in giving an example of communication with OKBD.
To complete the presentation, the presenter also distributed an e-book of psychological first aid guidelines for suicide attempts which are available in English and Indonesian. This book is a guide for the general public to become first aiders in cases of suicide attempts.