Caught in feelings of
desperation and hopelessness, thousands of people --
some estimates put the number as high as 30,000 --
commit suicide each year in the United States. The
number of people who attempt suicide may be eight to ten
times higher.
Suicide is the eighth
leading cause of death in this country. Men commit
suicide more than three times as often as women, perhaps
because they tend to choose more violent, efficient
methods, such as jumping from high places, hanging or
shooting themselves. Women are four times more likely to
make attempts, typically using poison or drug overdose.
The greatest number of male suicides happen after the
age of forty––five. Women tend to be most vulnerable
to suicidal behavior after the age of fifty––five.
People who live alone with
few social connections are at high risk. A person is
more likely to attempt to kill himself during a period
of unemployment. Overall, suicides go up during
recessions, depressions, and periods of high
unemployment.
For many, suicide seems the
only solution to intractable problems and feelings of
emptiness, inertia and helplessness. Often, people who
are profoundly depressed, lack the energy to kill
themselves. As they begin to respond to treatment and
feel better, they stand at higher risk for suicide since
they regain sufficient direction and energy to act.
Individuals in the following
circumstances may be at greater risk for attempting
suicide:
· Someone
who has experienced a recent and significant loss
· Someone
who suffers from a serious depression, schizophrenia and
other mental illnesses
· Someone
with a personal and/or family history of suicidal
behavior and depression
· Someone
with an alcohol or drug problem and depression
· Someone
who suffers from serious physical illness and has
depression
· Someone
who has a chronic illness or has been in a serious
accident that has resulted in unremitting pain,
diminished mobility, or disfigurement
· Someone
who abruptly withdraws from their normal activities and
involvements
· Someone
who exhibits a sudden and profound change of personality
· Someone
with an impulsive or aggressive disposition and
depression
If someone in these
circumstances appears to
· lack
a vision or plans for the future, and sees nothing to
live for,
· starts
giving away cherished possessions and makes a will, or
· talks
with great specificity of killing herself,
you need to be particularly
alert for the possibility of suicide.
If you suspect that someone
close to you is at risk for suicide, talk frankly with
him. You may worry that a candid discussion about
thoughts and intentions will encourage action. However,
this is seldom the case. When someone threatens to kill
himself, take such threats seriously. People who succeed
at suicide almost always talk about it and give warning
first.
Suicide prevention centers,
telephone hot lines, and, of course, emergency rooms are
available in most communities, and they can move a
person beyond the immediate crisis. However, over time,
drug therapy and long––term psychotherapy may be
necessary to address the underlying depression and
life-circumstances that lead someone to contemplate such
a drastic and absolute step as suicide.
Last update July 14, 1998(Intelihealth-John's
Hopkins Health Information)
Copyright The Johns Hopkins University 1996-1999. All
rights reserved.
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