According to data from the World Health Organization, more than 800,000 people worldwide die by suicide every year. This means that every 40 seconds one person takes their own life. Consequently, the number of suicides exceeds the number of deaths caused by wars and violence. Unfortunately, this issue remains highly relevant in our country as well. In this regard, a public lecture for young people entitled “Prevention of Suicidal Behavior” was held today at Abai University.

The main objective of the lecture was to increase students’ psychological literacy, develop an understanding of suicide prevention, enhance skills for early recognition of crisis situations, and strengthen the culture of seeking professional psychological support.

The lecture was delivered by psychiatrist and psychotherapist Sergey Sklyar, who provided thoughtful and professional answers to the questions raised by future educational psychologists, illustrating his points with practical examples. He подробно explained the reasons that may drive individuals toward suicidal behavior, examined the motives and underlying meaning of such actions, and debunked several common myths surrounding this topic. According to him, one of the key factors leading a person to extreme actions is distorted thinking and the inability to objectively assess a situation. The formation of erroneous perceptions regarding certain events can significantly exacerbate a person’s psycho-emotional state.

Sergey Sklyar emphasized that suicidal thoughts are most often not a sign of weakness, but rather a signal calling for help. Timely identification of the problem, open communication, and seeking professional support are among the most effective preventive measures.

- Each person perceives the world differently; everyone has their own virtual reality in their mind. Therefore, the same event can be interpreted in various ways. The role of a teacher is not only to provide knowledge, but also to teach how to think. It is important to help students learn to view the world from different perspectives and consider alternative ways of reasoning. Only then can we offer genuine help, - said Sergey Sklyar.

In society, there are still stereotypes that portray seeking help from a psychologist or psychotherapist as something "shameful". However, such meetings help dismantle these misconceptions and promote the understanding of mental health as an integral part of overall human well-being.

Holding public lectures of this kind is an important step in suicide prevention, as strengthening the psychological well-being of young people, fostering mutual support, and creating a trusting environment are of strategic importance for modern society.

«Abai University» Media Center