No suicide attempt should be
dismissed or treated lightly!
Often, suicide is glamorized and
romanticized in drama and literature, frequently described as
"honorable" or "noble." In reality, however, it is a national crisis
resulting in 32,000 deaths in the U.S. in 1994, and 110,000
hospitalizations for suicide attempts. It is estimated that the ratio
of attempts to suicide is at least 10 to 1. Between 30 and 40 percent
of suicide victims have made a previous attempt, and the risk of a
completed suicide is 100 times greater in the first year after an
attempt. Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death. A majority of
people who commit suicide have a mental or emotional disorder.
Warning Signs
- Verbal threats such as "You'd be
better off without me" or "Maybe I wonÕt be around anymore..."
- Expressions of hopelessness and/or
helplessness.
- Previous suicide attempts.
- Daring and risk-taking behavior.
- Personality changes (i.e.
withdrawal, aggression, moodiness).
- Depression.
- Giving away prized possessions.
- Lack of interest in the future.
Risk Factors For Suicide
The reasons behind suicide are difficult to define. Among the
immediate motives are despair, hopelessness, illness, humiliation,
loss of employment, loss of a relationship, death in the family,
guilt, and psychotic delusions.
Many different high risk groups and/or
factors can lead a person to commit suicide:
- Depression - Between 30 and
70 percent of suicide victims suffered from major depression or
bipolar disorder.
- Substance Abuse - It is
estimated that 50% of suicides involve substance abuse. The rate of
suicide in alcoholics is 3 to 4 times the average, and for narcotics
users it is 5 times the average. Often, depression is also a factor
in these cases and it is difficult to tell whether the addiction
caused the depression or vise versa.
- Elderly - Elderly people,
particularly those with chronic illnesses, have the highest suicide
rate of any other age group. An estimated 40% of all suicide victims
are people over 60, and the majority are white males. After age 75,
the rate is 3 times the average, and after age 80 the risk is 6
times the average.
- Adolescents/Young Adults -
Young people, age 15 to 24 account for 20% of male suicides, and 14%
of female suicides. Suicide attempts are among the leading causes of
hospital admissions in people under 35.
- Schizophrenia - One third of
people with schizophrenia attempt suicide, and 5 to 10 percent
eventually do so. The majority of these are young, unemployed males
with no families. They are usually isolated and may also have
substance abuse problems.
Preventing Suicide/Crisis
Intervention
The only way to prevent suicide is to treat the mental and/or
emotional disorders which lead to suicidal tendencies. Though most
suicidal people usually do not call suicide and crisis hotlines, they
do try to seek help.
Many, for example, visit a doctor 1 to
4 months prior to their death. The majority of people will reveal
suicidal thoughts when asked. Mental health professionals need to
react quickly and act decisively in a crisis situation. The therapist
should be available at all times, and others, such as family, friends,
doctors, and clergy may need to be alerted as well.
Treating suicidal patients requires
much skill, empathy, patience and understanding. There is no single
therapy or treatment which is appropriate and successful in all
circumstances. Therapists dealing with suicide crises should have a
great deal of experience and be capable of tolerating heavy demands
and intrusions on their personal lives.
What To Do If A Friend Or Relative
Is Suicidal
- Trust your instincts and believe
that the person may attempt suicide.
- Talk with the person about
your concerns and show that you care and want to help.
- Ask the person direct questions.
The more detailed their plan, the greater the immediate risk.
- Remember that the most important
thing is to listen.
- Get professional help - even
if the person resists.
- Do not leave the person
alone.
- Do not swear to secrecy.
- Do not act shocked or judge
the person.
- Do not counsel the person.
On-Going Treatment
Cognitive and behavioral therapies are both successful in treating
suicidal patients by teaching new behavior and ways of thinking, and
in developing new solutions and attitudes to problems. Cognitive
therapy attempts to get the patient to acknowledge his or her
feelings, both negative and positive, and to suggest alternative ways
of thinking. Behavioral therapy involves assertiveness training,
problem-solving, social skills and ways to cope with stress,
depression, and anxiety.
Source: National Mental Health
Association
