When you are alone in a dark room, feeling suffocating loneliness and unbearable pain spreading throughout your heart, even the slightest glimmer of hope can disappear. In such a difficult situation, many people think that death is the only way to be free from all this pain forever. In medical science, preventing these situations is called Suicide Prevention .
Let's simply learn about the structural changes that occur in the brain during severe mental stress and the guidelines for saving life, based on the discussion with Dr. Priya, a 24-year-old young man named Tharindu, who said that he was considering suicide after his business collapsed, lost love, and was fed up with everything in life.
Doctor-patient dialogue: "Why are you having thoughts of ending your life, Doctor?"
Tharindu (crying): "Doctor Priya, I have lost everything in my life. Due to financial problems and the breakup of love, I have no hope of living anymore. I feel that the only solution to end this pain of mine is death. What do I do, Doctor?"
Dr. Priya (holding Tharindu's hand and comforting her): "Tharinadu, I understand the pain you are facing. But death is not a solution to problems at all."
Our emotions are controlled by a part of the brain called the amygdala . When we experience unbearable pain, the amygdala becomes overactive and sends out a warning signal to the brain telling us to "stop this pain immediately." At that time, the executive part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which helps us think logically and be patient, is temporarily paralyzed. This is a temporary chemical imbalance that occurs due to depression in medicine.
Dr. Priya: "When the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is impaired, it is natural for the future to look bleak and suicidal thoughts to arise. But once proper treatment and guidance is received, the brain chemicals are balanced and these dark thoughts completely disappear."
🚨 Red Flags of Suicide
The main red flags that indicate that a person is at high risk of taking their own life are as follows. These should be acted upon immediately upon recognition:
1. Frequent talk about death: Frequently saying that one would like to die, that the world would be better off without one, or that one is a burden to others.
2. Searching for ways to commit suicide: Collecting poisons, pills, or searching the internet for ways to commit suicide.
3. Showing signs of farewell: Giving away valuables to others, saying goodbye to everyone in an unusual way, or writing letters/notes.
4. Social isolation: staying alone in your room, avoiding phone calls, and completely distancing yourself from friends.
5. Sudden calmness:A person who was severely depressed and anxious suddenly appears very quiet and calm (this may mean that they have made the final decision to end their life).
🛠️ Action Steps to follow to save a life
- Step 1: If you or someone you know is experiencing these feelings, immediately call the National Mental Health Helpline on 1926 (toll-free) . The team of experts there will provide you with confidential support 24 hours a day.
- Step Two: Never be alone. Talk about your feelings with a trusted family member, friend, or teacher.
- Third step: Immediately refer to a mental health clinic at a government hospital or to a psychiatrist/counselor.
- Step Four: Engage in daily walks in the sun, physical exercise, and meditation to increase the levels of endorphins, a hormone that causes happiness in the body.
- Step Five: Stay away from alcohol and drugs completely. They further impair the PFC part of the brain and lead to poor decision-making.
📊 Do's & Don'ts
| Do's | Don'ts |
|---|---|
| Recognize that suicidal thoughts are a real health problem and call 1926 immediately. | Do not ridicule or belittle the feelings of a person suffering from mental distress. |
| If someone says they are suicidal, do not leave them alone and immediately inform those closest to them. | Avoid staying alone in the dark in your room when you have mental problems (it makes the thoughts worse). |
| Take antidepressants as prescribed by a psychiatrist. | Don't use alcohol or drugs to escape problems. |
| Spend more time with family and engage in a favorite hobby. | Don't be ashamed of going to mental health clinics or delay treatment. |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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#### Can Suicidal Thoughts Really Be Cured?
Yes. Suicidal thoughts are not a permanent condition, but a temporary chemical imbalance in the brain that occurs during severe stress. Psychiatric treatment, counseling, and appropriate medications can restore brain function and completely cure these thoughts.
#### Do most suicides in Sri Lanka occur among women?
No. According to statistics, the majority of suicides in Sri Lanka are men. This is due to men's reluctance to talk about their mental problems and pain or seek professional help.
#### What services are available through the 1926 hotline?
1926 is a toll-free hotline maintained by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). By calling this, you can discuss your problems with professional mental health counselors and doctors in complete confidentiality and get support.
#### Do people get addicted to antidepressants?
No. The modern medications prescribed by doctors for depression are not addictive. They only normalize the levels of happy chemicals like serotonin in the brain. They can be gradually discontinued after a prescribed period of time, as recommended by the doctor.
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📖 Sources and Scientific References
- NHS (UK) Mental Health Support Services: Help for Suicidal Thoughts (Accessed 2026)
- PubMed Central (PMC) Clinical Review: Neurobiological Basis of Suicidal Behavior (PMC10573981)
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