After a death by suicide in the family, school or work environment, the feeling that after the fatal outcome “there is nothing to do” is inevitable. In 2019 alone, more than 3,600 people died from this cause in our country. And every year, at least 18,000 Spaniards will find themselves on the painful path of living a death by suicide in their circle, according to Cecilia Borrás, president and founder of After Suicide – Survivors Association (DSAS).
For them, a very difficult process begins that needs all the support possible, just as it is offered in other traumatic situations. Ana González-Pinto, acting head of the Psychiatry Service of the Araba University Hospital (Álava) and president of the Spanish Foundation for Psychiatry and Mental Health, explains what post- intervention consists of, a term that is beginning to be heard more and more in the prevention area: this is the name of the set of actions that are carried out to reduce the risk of suicide in relatives of those who have died from this cause , and that promote the improvement of depressive symptoms associated with the loss of a loved one.
According to the specialist, it has been shown, without any doubt, that family members have a higher risk of death by suicide. In this sense, post-prevention strategies, after having been recently analyzed, have proven to be very effective.
For his part, Borrás recalls that there are experiences in the United States on how agents should organize and coordinate in cases of violent and unexpected death. The same is true in Norway and Belgium. “Early support for survivors helps to lessen the impact of the experience and trauma and to break the taboo,” says the founder of DSAS.
Although it is not a new term, it is part of a novel approach. In fact, González-Pinto assures that this type of assistance is still beginning to be organized. “If the patient dies in a hospital or while being treated in a mental health center, the family is received and this intervention is carried out. But most of those killed by suicide were not in psychiatric treatment. For this reason, many autonomous communities in our country are considering how to organize care for those close to these people ”, emphasizes González-Pinto.
Nor should we forget that professionals have limitations in accessing information about the deceased person and, by extension, their environment, due to the lack of agreement with the Forensic Medical Institute, says Borrás. In fact, completed suicides sometimes do not reach the health field. To face the problem, the psychiatrist insists that it is necessary to connect forensic medicine with the health system , since solving these legal loopholes would be of great help to gather data on suicide attempts and their evolution. “It is important information to know if the support actions in people with attempt help reduce deaths, and to assist the family,” he indicates.
The common idea is that there is still much to do in this area. As Borrás tells us, in Catalonia, the Basque Country and Madrid, for example, there are plans for post-Convention and also some initiatives that have not yet materialized as global.
Meanwhile, health professionals are increasingly sensitive to supports such as those offered by this association. “Last year, 43% of the survivors we attended were referred to the association by health professionals,” emphasizes Dr. Borrás.
“We know that an immediate intervention, offering this help, is beneficial, since it is a resource offered by equals, people who have lived the same experience, which facilitates the management of a very complex grief,” he says, at the same time which highlights the fact that this type of care is one of the priorities of the new Suicide Prevention Plan presented in Catalonia.
Along the same lines, González-Pinto remarks that the role of survivors’ associations in this area is fundamental . “They go to places that professionals cannot reach. We all have things to contribute and, working together, we will improve the prognosis of the affected people ”, he remarks.
