Jakarta, IO – The World Suicide Prevention Day, commemorated on 10 September, is an important moment that allows us to become more aware of the importance of maintaining psychological or mental health. In accordance with the global theme for the day, “Creating Hope Through Action”, the Ministry of Health organized a webinar titled “Major Depressive Disorder with Suicidal Ideation” last Saturday (10/09/2022).
In the webinar, the Ministry’s Director of Mental Health Affairs drg. R. Vensya Sitohang, M.Epid, declares that suicide is preventable. However, it requires a comprehensive effort that involves both the Government and the people. Mental health can be promoted if people care about each other, and provide the verbal, mental, and emotional support necessary for everyone’s survival.
Most importantly, suicide can be prevented if one detects its tendencies early, as manifested by worrisome changes in behavior. “Suicide is a complex issue. It is never caused by any single ‘reason’. The triggers may be random, but they always set up something that has been accumulated in the relevant person’s heart and mind for a long time. Biological, genetic, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental factors interact intricately with each other to sharpen suicidal tendencies. The people around the sufferer should make time to listen to their stories, and to support them and help them get the mental healthcare that they need,” drg. Vensya said.