2.5 Self-destructive thoughts and self-destruction

Self-destructiveness

  • Self-destructiveness is related to mental condition.

  • The purpose of self-destructive thought is not necessary the death or suicide.

  • There might be a willingness to get rid of and get relief from unbearable state of mind.

  • In persons mind the situation might seem to be deadlock.

  • Sometimes suffering self-destructive thoughts makes the person to try to get rid of these difficult thoughts by misusing alcohol or drugs.

  • There might exists other destructive behavior as causing harm to his/herself.

Self-destructive thought and behavior are symptoms of very serious life situation

Suicidal attempts

  • Suicide means that someone takes a breath of him/herself

  • Extended suicide means that the person takes a breath from other people too (Eg. family members)

Taking care of persons own resources and assets prevent suicidal behavior

How to recognize the risk of suicide

  • The person has suicidal thoughts

  • The person speaks about the willingness to die

  • The person has a severe depression or anxiety

  • The person has a difficult and long-term illness. Especially if there is pain related to the person´s condition

  • Increased misuse of alcohol or drugs

  • The person sleeps to little

  • The person demonstrates rage and anger or speaks about the revenge

  • the person withdraw him/herself constantly from social situations or feels him/herself estranged

  • The person has a relative or closed one who has committed to suicide

  • The person tells you that he/she feels him/herself hopeless and feels like being a trapped

  • The person has had a big life changes and crises recently

  • Earlier suicidal attempts

  • The person is trying to find a way how to make a suicide

  • The person has a plan how to take a breath form him/herself

The danger of self-destruction is bigger depending how many of these upper mentioned issues are true.

 

Where to seek help?

  • Thinking about the meaning of life and death is a normal part of living and self-growth

  • However if you notice yourself constantly thinking about the death or notice that other people do so it is time to seek help

  • It is good to speak about these issues openly. Speaking about the difficulties in your life does not cause more harm or self-destructive thoughts. It is not weakness either.

  • You need to seek help if you think that the situation is too much and you lack of resources at the time

When the person has self-destructive thoughts, the following may help:

Being present:

  • When the person feels anxiety and the difficult thought are circulating in mind it is good that someone is present and with that person

  • If you feel anxiety and blue yourself seek company from other people (family, friends, professional personnel)

  • Being with other people makes it a little bit easier by getting support from them. It makes you feel safety and relief the mental pain

  • If person close to you is having anxiety and he/she has self-destructive thoughts don´t leave him/her alone

  • Be present even he/she doesn’t want to speak about the issue

 

Speaking and listening:

  • Speaking about your own bad feelings, anxieties and self-destructive thought is helpful. Seek other persons´ company

  • It is important that you speak in voice to someone about what you think will be helpful

  • It is important, that there is someone who listens

  • If someone tells you about self-destructive thought, try not to blame or make him/her feel quilt. Don´t give advice. Try to listen and be supportive

  • If you support your closed one, remember to take care of yourself too (your own wellbeing, resources and management in the situation)

  • Try to find other people to help you to support suicidal person

You may find helpful to ask the following questions when supporting the self-destructive person: 

  • How do you feel about the stress, anxiety and difficult situation

  • In your opinion about what may cause that you are feeling this way

  • Do you have suicidal thoughts

  • Do you have a plan to make real your thoughts about the suicide

  • Have you tried suicide before

If the person has a plan to make a suicide real:

  • Don´t leave him/herself alone

  • Make away all drugs, alcohol, weapons and sharp wears

  • Take a contact with the nurse or other personnel in reception center forgetting adequate help to the suicidal person

  • In emergency, make a call to emergency number: 112.

 

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A guide for pre-integration
1 Everyday life in Finland
1.1 Welfare and well-being1.2. Participating and influencing the environment1.3. Health, wellbeing and culture1.4. Activities of daily living1.6. Equality and discrimination1.7. A child and everyday living in Finland1.8. Child´s protection and child welfare
2 Coping and sustaining wellbeing
2.1 Stress and crises2.2 Managing the stressful situation2.3 Nature as a support of wellbeing2.4 Relaxation2.5 Self-destructive thoughts and self-destruction2.6 Where to seek help?
3 Work in Finland
3.1 Working culture in Finland3.2 Education3.3 Labour legislation3.4 General work life skills3.5 Job seeking3.6 Stages in a job seeking process3.7 Job application and CV
4 Professional Competence and competence development
4.1 Earning and proving your competence4.2 Assessing your own competence4.3 Professional competence4.4 Demonstrating the competence4.5 Recognition and comparing the degrees earned previously in countries of origin4.6 Developing your own competence
Digital Material
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