This week is Suicide Prevention Week.
Comment generally about what you know about suicide. Then pick 1-2 questions below to research. It is fine for more than one of you to post answers -- try to augment rather than duplicate each others' work.
1) what are the current stats on suicide? regionally, domestically, internationally?
2) how do we define suicide? how should we?
3) what are the stats on suicide in the military? remember what Capt Peters said about young recruits taking on too much responsibility -- what can you find out about that? what other programs does the military have?
4) what can you do to try to help someone in distress -- who might be suicidal?
5) How is suicide represented in the media, in film, tv, books, music?
6) what questions do you have about suicide? others in the class can comment.
https://www.afsp.org/news-events/in-the-news/suicide-2015-facts-and-figures-infographic
ReplyDeleteSo i found this website on 2015 suicide statistics. I remember someone asking about suicide related to mental health. In this statistic, 90% of deaths are those who have a psychiatric disorder. This can be anxiety, depression, substance abuse, schizophrenia, etc.
What i saw that was interesting was a map of where most suicide occur. The most frequent states are Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Alaska, and New Mexico. This sparks my interest because i wonder why there are more suicides in those areas, especially since it is almost right in the middle of America. Is there something about that area or culture there?
Also, I looked into the most predictable factors for suicide. I found (from 2013):
Is the white male, age 45-65, in the prior listed states, using a firearm.
( https://www.afsp.org/understanding-suicide/facts-and-figures )
My question, is why do men commit suicide more often. especially when women are the "emotionally unstable" ones.
Ellie, that is an interesting question, and I was thinking the same thing, so I looked into it a little more. I remember Dr. Cate saying something in class about men being more successful in their attempts. On the website I was looking at, it said that males deaths represent 79% of all US suicides; it also said that firearms are the most commonly used method for suicide among males. What I found most interesting, are the stats about women. It says that females are more likely than males to have suicidal thoughts, and females attempt suicide 3x's as often as males. I think it is very interesting that suicide is attempted more by females, but males seem to be more successful in their attempts. Women also experience depression more than men, so that leads me to ask what is the cause for the higher rates of suicide in males? What are the major reasons for males to commit suicide?
Delete( http://www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=705D5DF4-055B-F1EC-3F66462866FCB4E6 )
Thats very interesting, i did not know that women had more attempts and feelings of suicide, but less success.
DeleteThis leads me to wonder if women are using less effective ways of death, like pills, or alcohol, or something like that. I also think that some women try to commit suicide, but they are crying for help. They do it in obvious areas in hope that someone finds them and saves them.
I also do wonder what the reasoning is for why males commit suicide... Is it loneliness, heartbreak, loss, etc.?
Jenna and Ellie, being a psychology major we talk about a lot of psychological disorders and also suicide when it comes to Abnormal Psychology. You both have asked the same question; why do men have higher rates of suicide than females? You both are on the right track when it comes to all the stats and attempts. However, being in abnormal psychology and further research, I understand that men have the higher rates because men have methods that are "more effective" then woman. This means they use firearms, or choose hanging, or something that is quick. However, on the other hand females have much lower rates is because they choose methods that usually take time, and with time people can find them, save them, or call an ambulance. For example, in my abnormal class we discussed how woman would normally use pills and overdose. Most of the time when this happens, the women will contemplate on if she should take them or not, which makes time for someone to come looking for her and also if they do take a lot of pills and pass out, normally someone could find them in enough time to get them to a hospital; whereas with a firearm or hanging most people can't get to people in time. So Ellie, you are correct they use less effective methods than men do. It is all very sad to think about in general and I wish that there wasn't any suicide in the world.
DeleteHonestly, I wish suicides did not exist. I have dealt with close friends who have either attempted or plotted out their own suicide. It is a very tragic event for family and friends to watch people they love suffer from depression.
ReplyDeleteLike we talked in class, the Internet and social media have an influence on suicide-related behavior. Social media allows us to take a look at others lives and compare them to our own. This is not a healthy thing to do because our brain automatically starts to compare ourselves to others. If we begin taking different social media sites out of our daily routines, it would make us happier.
In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, suicide is described as the act of killing yourself because you do not want to continue living. This definition is described very bluntly. MentalHelp.net describes suicide as the act of taking one’s own life. In the conventional sense, suicide is where someone plans out or acts upon self-destructive thoughts and feelings, often while they are experiencing overwhelming amounts of stress.
There is often the question of “how should we perceive suicide?” Some may believe that is it a cowardly act or the action of someone who is not mentally stable. What do you believe?
I agree with the fact that there are a lot more stimuli to make a person to have suicidal thoughts, like social media, bullying and things like that.
DeleteIn a way I see suicide as an action taken by people when they feel there is no other way. I wouldnt say it is a cowardly act, because it takes a lot of courage to follow through with the plan. I think thoughts of death, or any bad thoughts in general, can sometimes fog our thoughts, so we are unable to think of anything that is good in our lives. I think people, besides those with mental illnesses, feel that there is no other way to turn. I think these people are just mentally compromised and unable to think clearly.
This also brings up an interesting topic to me, cutting of ones wrist. I know people who look at this act as a way to commit suicide. In my opinion, I view it as a cry for help or just an act of attention. It is very unlikely for someone to die from cutting their wrist, because the time to bleed out takes a long time. This is also knows as a low detrimental way of suicide, like taking pills, because it is likely that this person can be saved. I want to know other people's opinion on this topic. What do you think they are getting at when they cut?
I agree that the act of cutting is a cry out for help. It is not meant to end their own life but to relieve some of the pain they are going through. Many times it is an internal struggle that they are going through and by hurting themselves it takes the pain away in a sense. I also agree that when someone attempts suicide by overdosing, they really don't mean to kill themselves. If they wanted to end their life they would have used a different method.
DeleteMarisa and Ellie,
DeleteI agree with both of you that cutting can be a way in which someone is searching for help. I also know from experience that some people will take it father than a cry for help or attention and continue to cut even when they know it isn't a healthy thing to do. I have had some close friends who have cut themselves and it is a hard thing for a friend to handle. You want to help as much as you can, but sometimes it seems like you can't help at all. When my friends would cut, they would try to keep it a secret, but their parents or someone would find out. when this would happen they would have to go talk to a health professional such as a psychologist. However, I have seen that when they had talked to a psychologist they would still cut anyways, even when they were getting help. And from experience some of my friends would use cutting in a negative way to try to keep their friends close by showing them they still did it and would talk about it all the time. Over a few long months and years it would end up pushing one another away because the other friends didn't feel comfortable enough to talk about it, see it, or experience it first hand. This is where I have seen the negative side of cutting, where people will continue to cut in order to still have that attention centered on them. I feel for those who experience pain and sadness in ones life and I wish I could help anyone who goes through this. My career path is going to lead me into some difficult situations with trauma patients, and children who are sick. I just hope that what I have seen in my past can somewhat help me in the future.
Marisa and Ellie,
DeleteI agree with both of you that cutting can be a way in which someone is searching for help. I also know from experience that some people will take it father than a cry for help or attention and continue to cut even when they know it isn't a healthy thing to do. I have had some close friends who have cut themselves and it is a hard thing for a friend to handle. You want to help as much as you can, but sometimes it seems like you can't help at all. When my friends would cut, they would try to keep it a secret, but their parents or someone would find out. when this would happen they would have to go talk to a health professional such as a psychologist. However, I have seen that when they had talked to a psychologist they would still cut anyways, even when they were getting help. And from experience some of my friends would use cutting in a negative way to try to keep their friends close by showing them they still did it and would talk about it all the time. Over a few long months and years it would end up pushing one another away because the other friends didn't feel comfortable enough to talk about it, see it, or experience it first hand. This is where I have seen the negative side of cutting, where people will continue to cut in order to still have that attention centered on them. I feel for those who experience pain and sadness in ones life and I wish I could help anyone who goes through this. My career path is going to lead me into some difficult situations with trauma patients, and children who are sick. I just hope that what I have seen in my past can somewhat help me in the future.
Suicide is something that has touched a lot of peoples lives. When I was in high school, there was one suicide each year. Some of them cried out for help and no one heard them, and one kid had a panic attack when no one was around that led him to ending his life. I remember that our school was told the details about what happened and it was on the news shortly after it had happened.
ReplyDeleteI did some research about how suicide is portrayed in the news, media, etc., and according to The New Zealand Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy, there is an large body of research that shows a connection between the media coverage of suicide and an increase in suicides. They say that it could be because vulnerable people hear about suicide on the news and see that as a option. When they hear a depiction of a suicide and decide to do it for themselves, it is called a “copycat suicide.” It has also been linked to books, movies, television dramas, magazines and many more. http://www.spinz.org.nz/file/downloads/pdf/file_50.pdf
A question I have along with that is that since there has been so much research linking media and the increase of suicides, why has there been nothing done about it? I can still remember the media coverage when Robin Williams died and how they described what had happened and how it happened, I don’t think detail should necessarily be allowed to be said on television because the most vulnerable person could hear it and decide that is going to be their fate.
One question I have about suicide is the whole cultural perspective. I know other cultures present suicide as "courageous," but that's so foreign to my American point of view. I can see how laying down your life for someone is courageous, but simply killing yourself isn't the same kind of sacrifice. I also don't like how people say that suicide is selfish. I think if you are really suicidal, you're sick. I can see how people see it as selfish, but when you're that mentally ill, you don't really see clearly how others value you.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand at all how committing suicide can be courageous. Which cultures view it in that sense? Do you know why they do?
DeleteI think it is important to recognize suicide as something very important and a growing problem in our society. I think sometimes people view suicide or suicide attempts as something selfish or immature for a person to do. But that really bothers me. I think that it is so so tragic that people can seem so happy on the outside and be so upset or broken on the inside. It also scares me that people are so good at hiding their true emotions. I know even from personal experience that it gets really east to hide how you are feeling on a certain day. But it is also exhausting to hide those feelings. And eventually it only leads to more problems. We live in a society today where showing emotions is so so frowned upon. And I think that is the biggest issue with suicide. When did it become wrong to cry, or become visibly upset? and Why? I just honestly don't understand why we as humans feel like we have to always put on a fake face.
ReplyDeleteI agree that being frowned upon for showing emotion is one of the biggest issues with suicide. I don't think people should have to put on a fake face to be apart of society. I think we should have the right to show emotion, because when a person bottles everything up all the time, it can lead to an action against another person or an action against themselves. I feel as if its wrong to show emotions in society that it means you are not normal and therefore you are not conforming to the social guidelines of society, that everything in your life is okay.
DeleteIt bothers me too that people think suicide is selfish or immature. If someone is going through that much pain and suffering, sometimes they feel like doing is their only way at peace and happiness and for someone to say that is selfish is just awful. It's sad that we have to put on a fake face and people can't just be accepted for who they are, even if they are a sad person. If we can see that the person is sad, then there are multiple ways we can reach out to them and help them, instead of letting them suffer on their own and contemplate ending their precious life.
DeleteI agree, it is so scary how good people are at hiding their true feelings and emotions. You may think someone is so happy with their life and under that smile they are miserable and finding ways to escape that misery. I too think that our society frowns upon showing our true emotions. I think having social media is a major factor however, because it gives people more opportunities to bully and get false perceptions of themselves by looking at how many people liked their photo etc. Personally, it does not surprise me that suicide is so prevalent in our world because of the negative vibes social media can bring to society. Suicide is never the answer and I wish there was a way to let those who are struggling know that there are other outlets.
DeleteI agree, it is so scary how good people are at hiding their true feelings and emotions. You may think someone is so happy with their life and under that smile they are miserable and finding ways to escape that misery. I too think that our society frowns upon showing our true emotions. I think having social media is a major factor however, because it gives people more opportunities to bully and get false perceptions of themselves by looking at how many people liked their photo etc. Personally, it does not surprise me that suicide is so prevalent in our world because of the negative vibes social media can bring to society. Suicide is never the answer and I wish there was a way to let those who are struggling know that there are other outlets.
DeleteWhen someone is in distress, there are many ways to help them. The first thing to do would be to talk to them and see if there is anything you can do to help, whether it be keeping them busy, or having them talk about their plan so you can be there to help them in anyway possible. If you feel as if you cannot help them, try to talk to someone who may be able to help them in ways that you cannot, or talk to the person who is having trouble about talking to a mental health professional, or counselor. Someone who has a higher chance of suicidal can be depressed, come from a bad background, are put into the middle of arguments between parents, a person who is afraid of disappointing someone by failing, or even someone who is so stressed from being expected to be perfect in every little thing they do.
ReplyDeleteThe American foundation for suicide prevention stated that so far for the year 2015 they've calculated that Wyoming has the highest suicide rate of 29.66 per 100,000 people which is above the national rate of 12.94 per 100,000. They also show that 90% of those who die by suicide had a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death, so it makes me wonder about the other 10%. Is it drug related? Is it just loneliness? What really bothers me are the age ranges for suicide. Did anyone else know children under the age of 14 commit suicide? I probably sound stupid for saying that but I honestly had no idea, because in my mind what could possibly influence a child to take their life? I remember when I was a kid I wondered about death and what it would feel like. I remember late one night I saw all my moms kitchen knives on the counter and I wondered about the size and the sharpness. Where I would place it, how hard I would have to drive it in, etc. It had nothing to do with the quality of my life at that age I was just extremely curious about what death was like. I remember deciding not to act on my curiosity because I didn't want to cause my parents the pain of walking in the kitchen the next morning to me on the floor like that. And I highly doubt all those young suicides were simply from curiosity and lack of self control. So what is it? Abuse? Drugs? It just breaks my heart because these kids haven't even been able to experience enough life to know it doesn't stay shitty forever. There are call centers, support groups, therapists, so many places to go for help but would an 11 year old in distress even know that? If something is so terrible to even drive them to killing themselves why would they think to research it? What could be done differently to help these kids? Not that it's okay for any age to commit suicide but teenagers have wacky hormones and emotions as it is so things can get pretty overwhelming really fast and adults have bills, relationships, pride, children, etc. The list goes on to cause them to be overwhelmed and distressed enough to wish everything to stop, but to be under 14? I'm starting to think that my problem with it is the fact that teenagers and adults pretty much take care of themselves, but children are still in the process of nurturing and needing to be cared for and guided. So what's going on there?
ReplyDeleteHelping someone who is severely depressed or even suicidal can be very hard at times. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1 (800) 273-8255 and this can be a good way to allow a person who is contemplating suicide to talk out their feelings. Calling this lifeline may be helpful because the person is talking anonymously and it can make it easier to express every feeling they are having. Just because a suicidal person does not ask for help, does not mean they do not want help. It is said that most people who attempt suicide are not trying to die, instead they are just trying to stop the hurt and pain they are going through every day. Some warning signs of suicide include talking about suicide, no hope for the future, getting affairs in order, saying goodbye to loved ones, withdrawing from others, self-destructive behavior and/ or a sudden sense of calm. The first tip of preventing someone's suicide is to speak up if you are worried. You can start off by saying I have been concerned about you lately, or recently I have noticed some differences in you and I wanted to check in with you because you haven't seemed yourself lately. Things you can say to help them can include you are not alone in this, I am here for you. I may not be able to understand exactly how you feel, but I care about you and want to help. Never argue with the person, do not act shocked, do not swear to secrecy, and do not blame yourself.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's very hard to help someone in distress. One day, one of my best friends called me telling me that his boyfriend had broken up with him. He was drunk and crying. I knew that he used to cut himself and I was very worried when he didn't answer me for a few minutes. He had also called another friend of ours and conferenced her in on the call. I told her to keep him on the line and talking. I then called one of my best friend's dad who is a police chief. He didn't have any jurisdiction there but he knew some people who did. I stayed on the phone with my friend until the police came and I knew he was alright. When we got back to school, he was mad at me and said that it was perfectly normal to act that way. I knew it wasn't. I may have lost my friend because of this incident, but at least I know that I didn't let him hurt himself when I could have done something to help.
ReplyDeleteSuicide is a very serious, tragic and too frequent event in our world. I have been in situations where a friend has told me they were going to commit suicide and it was the kind of situation where the boy cries wolf…He was always intoxicated and said he was going to drive his car off the road, although I knew he hadn’t driven that night and so I never knew if I should worry and call someone or if it was just another drunk night of bad thoughts. It’s scary because it is so easy to blow someone off and not take them seriously. You never know how serious someone is about actually committing suicide.
ReplyDeleteThere are various ways to talk to someone that may be suicidal. A few of these are talking to the person and asking them how they have been doing lately because you have seen a difference in them and you are worried. If there is a crisis, respond quickly. When someone has a plan, a weapon or substance to carry out the plan, and time for when it will be done and intend on following through with the plan, this is when someone is at risk for committing suicide and someone should be notified immediately. The last thing that you can do to help someone who is suicidal is by offering your help or support for the person. You can offer to talk to their parents, a counselor, to promote a more positive outlook on life, offer to help change some of the negative aspects of their life if at all possible, etc. Being there for someone and showing that you care about what happens to them can help a lot more than we think.
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/suicide-prevention/suicide-prevention-helping-someone-who-is-suicidal.htm
Suicide is a scary matter and it often times terrifies me how strong and confident someone can be to actually end their own life. For matters to get so bad that eliminating ourselves from this earth is our only possible option is very frightening to me. I wonder what it takes to get to the point where there is no turning back. Although I wonder this, I hope to never find out the answer from anyone I know personally or from experience.
Suicide is a very serious, tragic and too frequent event in our world. I have been in situations where a friend has told me they were going to commit suicide and it was the kind of situation where the boy cries wolf…He was always intoxicated and said he was going to drive his car off the road, although I knew he hadn’t driven that night and so I never knew if I should worry and call someone or if it was just another drunk night of bad thoughts. It’s scary because it is so easy to blow someone off and not take them seriously. You never know how serious someone is about actually committing suicide.
ReplyDeleteThere are various ways to talk to someone that may be suicidal. A few of these are talking to the person and asking them how they have been doing lately because you have seen a difference in them and you are worried. If there is a crisis, respond quickly. When someone has a plan, a weapon or substance to carry out the plan, and time for when it will be done and intend on following through with the plan, this is when someone is at risk for committing suicide and someone should be notified immediately. The last thing that you can do to help someone who is suicidal is by offering your help or support for the person. You can offer to talk to their parents, a counselor, to promote a more positive outlook on life, offer to help change some of the negative aspects of their life if at all possible, etc. Being there for someone and showing that you care about what happens to them can help a lot more than we think.
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/suicide-prevention/suicide-prevention-helping-someone-who-is-suicidal.htm
Suicide is a scary matter and it often times terrifies me how strong and confident someone can be to actually end their own life. For matters to get so bad that eliminating ourselves from this earth is our only possible option is very frightening to me. I wonder what it takes to get to the point where there is no turning back. Although I wonder this, I hope to never find out the answer from anyone I know personally or from experience.
After hearing about what Capt Peters said about young adults fresh out of high school committing suicide from taking on so much stress after joining the military I really reflected on a friend I have who joined the Navy. My friend was going to go to college before going into active duty, but he changed his mind very quickly. One day he told me he quit school and then about a week later he told me he signed up for active duty. I worried about the sudden decision he made and I really wondered if this was the appropriate decision for him to make. Was he doing this because we wanted to feel like a mature adult or because it was what was best for him? I talked to his about my concerns, but he still seems happy with his choice. I believe the best thing I can do for him is to continue to talk to him and ask how everything is going. If he seems overly stressed I will encourage him to see a counselor for some support. Suicide in the media is perceived as a cowardly act and I believe it is the worst decision anyone could make. I don’t believe that the media always shows the whole story however. The media wants us to see that a person just wouldn’t ask for help and they just wanted a quick way out of their situation. What about that person’s friends and family members? Suicide cannot be blamed on others because someone who commits suicide won’t always show signs of depression or wanting to commit suicide. I still think a good support system could go a long way in someone’s life when they are undergoing a lot of stress. I just hope that suicide will not be my friends answer to stress one day and if he considers it then I would hope that I could intervene in enough time to help him.
ReplyDelete