Suicide

Posted: 2005

Life is a wonderful, incredible free gift. We should be accepting every moment of it joyfully. But we don't. Instead most of us think of suicide at some point in our lives. We hunger for love and meaning but the world can be very harsh and confusing and some people, like 11-year-old Volodya, just have no idea where to look.

Page Contents

• Feeling Suicidal?
• Introduction to Suicide
  • Why do people commit suicide?
  • Is suicide a big problem?
  • What is being done about suicide?
  • What can be done about suicide?
• The Lasting Solution
• Learn More (Useful Articles)
• Practical Actions

Feeling suicidal?

Please click this link now

Why do people commit suicide?

Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain. People who have more pain than they can cope with commit suicide. Suicide is neither right nor wrong; it is not a defect of character; it is morally neutral. It is simply an inbalance of pain versus coping resources.

You can survive suicidal feelings if you do either of two things: (1) find a way to reduce your pain, or (2) find a way to increase your coping resources. Both are possible.

Pain can be physical but is usually emotional, caused for example, by bullies, a drunken violent parent, being poorer than your neighbours, or "not fitting in". Coping resources are usually family, friends and people you trust, so without these life can be very difficult but there is hope.

Is suicide a big problem?

Globally:

• Over a million people die annually from suicide
• In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60%
• It is among the 3 leading causes of death for those aged 15-44
• Suicide attempts are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicides
• Young people are now the group at highest risk in a third of all countries
• Depression and substance abuse are associated with most suicides
• However, suicide results from many complex sociocultural factors
• Most likely to occur during social, economic, family and individual crises

What is being done about suicide?

A project to prevent suicide in Finland (which has the world's highest suicide rate) has influenced measures that can be taken to prevent suicide. Training in recognition of possible suicides and timely intervention seem to be most effective. Around 100,000 professionals mainly from caring professions were trained. There was an overall reduction in suicide of 9%.

What can be done about suicide?

A number of protective factors have been identified:

• Effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance abuse disorders
• Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help seeking
• Family and community support
• Support from ongoing medical and mental health care relationships
• Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent handling of disputes
• Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation instincts

The Lasting Solution

Not enough people know this yet, but true escape from this world, true inner fulfillment, not dependent on outer circumstances, is possible and available right now in this world. Every human being has the inner coping resources to find happiness, real happiness that lasts. This is not a positive thinking pep talk but a statement of fact based on my and many people's experience of receiving the gift of Knowledge as shown by Prem Rawat. He backs up his inspirational talks with the practical experience. He speaks to you about your life like nobody else does. I hope you will investigate further - it is independent of social, cultural, religious, family background or beliefs, totally unprejudiced and unbiased, and really is the best of all coping resources. It saved me.

Useful Articles about Suicide

1. Metanoia
2. Mental Health Matters Overview
3. WHO Suicide Prevention page
4. WHO report

Practical Actions

1. Handling a call from a suicidal person ...a very helpful ten-point list that you can print out and keep near your phone or computer
2. What can I do to help someone who may be suicidal? ...a helpful guide, includes Suicide Warning Signs
3. The Samaritans ...24 hours a day listening and support. Volunteers wanted
4. Psych Central ...good listing of online resources for suicide and other mental health needs