Jakarta –
Cases of suicide in Gorontalo Province continue to increase. As of July 2023, there have been at least 24 suicides. Over the last six months there has been a dramatic increase in the suicide rate in Gorontalo. This trend has been identified as a public health crisis that urgently needs new solutions and has prompted significant research efforts to increase our understanding of suicide and strategies to prevent it.
This event prompted a fundamental question; What are the factors behind the rampant suicide cases in Gorontalo? Can the community contribute to efforts to prevent future cases? What approaches are possible to stop the “contagious” effect of suicide on society?
Social Integration
Understanding suicide and risk prevention efforts requires an understanding of how suicide varies with these forces and how they relate to individual and group experiences. Suicide carries social and moral significance in all societies. At both the individual and population levels, suicide rates have long been understood to be correlated with cultural, social, political, and economic forces.
Suicide is not only associated with pathology, but is a culturally recognized solution to certain situations in the extreme throes of life. Durkheim’s research in his work Suicide: A Study in Sociology considered to be one of the in-depth references to the phenomenon of suicide. Durkheim argued that suicide is not only caused by psychological or emotional factors, but also by social factors.
Social integration in particular is an important factor in suicides. Many doctors and psychologists developed the theory that the majority of people who commit suicide are in a pathological state, but Durkheim emphasized that the determining force for suicide is not merely psychological but social. He concluded that suicide is the result of social disorganization or a lack of social integration or social solidarity.
The more socially integrated a person is —that is, the more connected to society, the general sense of belonging and the sense that life makes sense in a social context—the less likely he or she is to commit suicide. When an individual’s social integration decreases, people tend to commit suicide. There are at least four models of suicide cases categorized by Durkheim, most of which can help portray a series of suicides in Gorontalo Province in the last half year.
First is what is called anomic suicide. This action is an extreme response by a person experiencing anomie or a sense of disconnection from society and feelings of not belonging to or not being accepted by society due to a weakening of social cohesion. States of anomie can occur during periods of serious social, economic, or political upheaval, resulting in rapid and extreme changes in society and individuals. Under such circumstances, a person may feel so confused and disconnected that they may choose to commit suicide.
Altruistic suicide, the second typology, is the result of excessive individual regulation by social forces so that a person can be moved to commit suicide for the sake of a goal or society in general. An example is the suicide bombing of someone for religious or political purposes. In such a state of social pressure, people are so integrated with their community or group with social expectations and society itself that they will kill themselves in an attempt to achieve a common goal.
The third type is egoistic suicide. Suicide is a visceral response by individuals who feel disconnected from society. Typically, people are integrated into society through their role in work, family and community ties and other social ties. When this bond weakens, for example due to retirement, being fired, or recently losing family and close friends, the likelihood of selfish suicide increases. In Durkheim’s research results, elderly people are the most vulnerable group to suffer from this loss, so they are very vulnerable to egoistic suicide.
The final type, fatalistic suicide, occurs in conditions of extreme social regulation that result in oppressive conditions and denial of self and agency. In such a situation a person may choose to die rather than continue to endure oppressive conditions, such as suicides among inmates or victims of illegal loans who are in debt and subjected to intense coercion and pressure. Like integration, too much regulation can also lead to what Durkheim calls “fatalistic” suicide. For Durkheim, fatalistic suicide occurs when members of a social group or category are subjected to such intense psychic and physical coercion that there is no hope for a future without suffering.
In many cases of suicide, social and cultural groups can also be repressive, oppressive, and conducive to creating an environment that supports suicide. In situations where the social group demands 100 percent loyalty and commitment, individuals lose their ability to make choices in the face of crises. In “greedy groups” as Coser (1979) calls them, individuals are asked to demonstrate their commitment to the group and its goals by surrendering the power of life and death to the needs of the group.
In these circumstances, the bonds of social networks of integration and regulation are so dense that safety nets close and form walls that destroy rather than sustain individual life (Pescosolido, 1994). The social and cultural forces that are so powerful in their contribution to suicide must be fully understood and considered in risk prevention.
Some Research
We can photograph suicide cases in Gorontalo Province by comparing several studies of similar cases that have occurred. In research conducted on South Korean society in 2022 for example, overall, 35 studies focused on the relationship between individual socioeconomic factors and suicidal ideation, 16 studies related to suicide attempts, while 10 studies discussed successful suicide.
Factors such as low income, unemployment, and financial difficulties were identified as risk factors for all suicidal behavior. Working under precarious conditions, pressure from supervisors, long working hours, self-employed worker status, changes in employment status, shift work or night work, and workplace stress are associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation. While primary studies cannot confirm whether residence has an impact on suicidal behavior (Raschke et.all, 2022).
Throughout society, family ties influence the likelihood of suicide. Some researchers argue that the family unit is the single most important factor in understanding suicide. This is for example in cases of suicide in India in the study of Gehlot and Nathawat (1983). However, other research indicates that the economic circumstances of life should also be considered as a trigger variable. Whatever the social context, several studies have also shown that living alone increases the risk of suicide, so that family support and other social support is a protective factor for individuals.
Although there are no in-depth studies and observations of suicides that occur in Gorontalo, those who enjoy close relationships with others are better able to cope with various stresses, including death, rape, job loss, and physical illness, including suicide. The support of family and close people can also enable individuals to enjoy better psychological and physical health.
Many studies have documented that social support can reduce the severity of depression and can accelerate remission of depression in at-risk groups, such as individuals who are economically vulnerable, trapped in debt, fired from work or women who become pregnant out of wedlock and elderly individuals who have lost a spouse or loved one. close (Barefoot et al., 2000;). Studies of adolescents at risk for adverse outcomes, including suicide, have shown that social support has the potential to buffer the effects of negative life events.
In cases of suicide in Gorontalo, the suicide rate generally seems to be related to indicators of economic hardship. This is supported in research conducted by Stack (2000) and several studies in several countries, such as the highest suicide rates in low-income areas in Stockholm and throughout Sweden as a whole, and the same causality occurs in Canada and London. In England and Wales, areas characterized by lower social class have higher suicide rates (Kreitman et al., 1991). Even among those younger than 25 years, lower social status increases the likelihood of suicide compared to local residents (Hawton et al., 1999).
Prevent
Communities and individuals can contribute to preventing suicide by providing support to individuals, providing a place for individuals in the community to integrate individual life and obtain social and economic support. Individuals who are integrated into the community will easily get support and assistance in facing economic upheavals and vulnerable periods of life.
Suicide is a serious public health problem that can have long-term effects on individuals, families and communities. Suicide cases that have been rampant for the past six months in Gorontalo cannot be seen solely as a mental and psychological disorder. At the individual level, extreme upheaval in economic matters is a trigger factor for suicidal ideation. Meanwhile, this desire is exacerbated by the lack of social support and the lack of social cohesion and support from the surrounding environment.
The good news is that suicide is preventable. Preventing suicide requires strategies at all levels of society. This includes prevention and protection strategies for individuals, families and communities. Everyone can help prevent suicide by learning the warning signs, promoting prevention and resilience, and a commitment to social bonds.
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2023-08-25 03:30:05
#Photographing #Series #Suicide #Cases #Gorontalo
