- Loss of interest.
- Irritability.
- Decline in academic performances.
- Easy fatigability.
- Lack of interest in previous pleasurable activities.
Features such as poor sleep, poor appetite may not be present.
In fact increased appetite and increased sleep may be evident.
- Early recognition is important.
- Best to refer for specialized help.
- Both medication and 'talk therapy' can help.
- Giving room for the friend to ventilate.
- Minimize Bulling.
- Help in academic activities.
- Forming a safety network.
- Providing companionship.
- Can be verbal or physical.
- Mainly directed towards family members and rarely towards mates.
- History of distress tolerance and failed relationship can be seen.
- Aggression should be eliminated at its earliest or else there is bound to be no stopping.
How to manage aggression in family
- Identify situations that can give rise to frustrations.
- Look into the behaviours of the persons around.
- Consequences of persons will decide if such behaviours will recur.
- Clear limits should be highlighted in the family.
- All members should adhere to the same levels of limit setting.
How to recognize if someone is in distress
- They might discuss the issue.
- Change in behaviour such as withdrawn, aggressive, distracted.
- Reveal of self harm ideas.
- Reveal of new onset substance use.
- Reveal of ideas for leaving home.
- School absenteeism.
- Ask for help.
- Avoid pleasurable activities.
- Crying episodes.
Recognizing self-harm/suicide has very low predictability. Best predicted by past attempts.
How to recognize suicidal ideas,
- Direct revelations.
- Indirect revelations in the form of jokes, suggestions.
- Inquire into possible acts.
- Self-harm episodes or abolished attempts.
- Giving away belongings which are dear to persons.
- Become overly generous, overly concerned.
- Possible plans of saying goodbye.
What should I do if my friend reveals a thought / idea of self-harm?
- Appreciate that he sought help/ talked to you about it.
- You might be the most closest to help at that point.
- Do not panic or do not joke about it.
- Ask if he is willing to get help.
- Some times it might be very helpful to open up conversation and let the person to ventilate.
- Be non-judgemental.
- You have a duty to let a responsible person know. This will need to be done even if the Friend disagrees about revealing the facts to others. Best if you can get
- him to consent for sharing of the information.
- Direct him to services such as psychiatry clinic, NGO (Sumithrayo), NIMH.