Suicide

other : long

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.

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?
• Learn More (Useful Articles)
• The Lasting Solution
• Practical Actions

Feeling suicidal?

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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.

(Put simply) - 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. However, there is usually something good within easy reach - look at the sky, listen to music, run around and feel the wind, eat fruit, observe people and breathe in and out. What would you do without your breath? So enjoy it while you have it. If you are happy perhaps you can be a coping resource for someone who is not?

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

Useful Articles about Suicide

1. Metanoia
2. Mental Health Matters Overview
3. Befrienders International Statistics
4. Encarta Overview
5. WebMD Overview USA
6. Youngsters statistics (USA)
7. Suicide Factsheet USA
8. Prevention Project in Finland
9. WHO Suicide Prevention page
10. WHO report

The Lasting Solution

The only lasting solution is for everyone to realize that real happiness can never be found 'outside in the world'; to understand that lasting satisfaction dwells within each one of us; and to discover that all we ever wanted, the ultimate coping resource if you will, we already have. We just have to discover it. Each and every breath brings the possibility of true peace to all of us, no matter how good, bad or deserving we may think we are. Prem Rawat has for many years helped people, irrespective of their social, cultural background or beliefs, discover the real happiness they have within themselves.

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

Posted by Peter