Suicide
Medical Author: Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, MD
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Suicide Warning Signs
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Suicide is a major public health problem, with more than 32,000 persons dying by suicide each year in the United States, or about 80 suicides per day. In addition to completed suicides, another 1,500 unsuccessful suicide attempts occur each day. In the 18- to 65-year age group, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Suicide occurs in persons of all ages and backgrounds, but certain groups of people are at increased risk for suicide attempts. These include persons with a psychiatric illness and a past history of attempted suicide. Males are more likely than females to commit suicide, although attempts are more common among females. A family history of, or exposure to, suicide; altered levels of neurotransmitters in the brain; and impulsivity are other factors that may increase an individual's risk of suicide.
While suicide is not universally preventable, it is possible to recognize some warning signs and symptoms that may enable you or your loved ones to access treatment before a suicide attempt. It has been estimated that up to 75% of suicide victims display some warning signs or symptoms.
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What is suicide?
Suicide is the process of purposely ending one's own life. The way societies
view suicide varies widely according to culture and religion. For example, many
Western cultures, as well as mainstream Judaism, Islam, and Christianity tend to
view killing oneself as quite negative. One myth about suicide that may be the
result of this view is considering suicide to always be the result of a mental
illness. Some societies also treat a suicide attempt as if it were a crime.
However, suicides are sometimes seen as understandable or even honorable in
certain circumstances, such as in protest to persecution (for example, hunger strike),
as part of battle or resistance (for example, suicide pilots of World War II; suicide
bombers) or as a way of preserving the honor of a dishonored person (for example,
killing oneself to preserve the honor or safety of family members).
Nearly a million people worldwide commit suicide each year, with anywhere
from 10 to 20 million suicide attempts annually. About 30,000 people reportedly
kill themselves each year in the United States. The true
number of suicides is likely higher because some deaths that were thought to be
an accident, like a single car accident, overdose or shooting, are not
recognized as being a suicide. Suicide is the eighth leading
cause of death in males and the 16th leading cause of death in females. It
is the third leading cause of death for people 10 to 24 years of age. Trends in
rates of suicides for teens 15 to 19 years of age indicate that from 1950 to 1990,
the frequency of suicides increased by 300% and from 1990 to 2003, that rate
decreased by 35%.
As opposed to suicidal behaviors, self-mutilation is defined as deliberately
hurting oneself without meaning to cause one's own death. Examples of self-mutilating behaviors include cutting any part of the body,
usually of the wrists. Other self-injurious behaviors include self-burning, head banging, pinching, and
scratching.
Physician-assisted suicide is defined as ending the life of a person who is
terminally ill in a way that is either painless or minimally painful, for the
purpose of ending suffering of the individual. It is also called euthanasia and
mercy killing. In 1997, the United States Supreme Court ruled
against endorsing physician-assisted suicide as a constitutional right but
allowed for individual states to enact laws that permit it to be done. As of
2003, Oregon was the only state with laws that authorized physician-assisted
suicide. Physician-assisted suicide seems to be less offensive to
people compared to euthanasia that is done by a nonphysician, although the
acceptability of both means to end life tends to increase as people age and with
the number of times the person who desires their own death repeatedly asks for
such assistance.
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From WebMD
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Anxiety »
Introduction to Anxiety
Generalized anxiety disorder (or GAD) is characterized
by excessive, exaggerated
anxiety and worry about everyday life events with no obvious reasons for
worry. People with
symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder tend to always expect disaster and
can't stop worrying about health, money, family, work, or school. In people
with GAD, the worry often is unrealistic or out of proportion for the
situation. Daily life becomes a constant state of worry, fear, and dread.
Eventually, the anxiety so dominates the person's thinking that it interferes
with daily functioning, including work, school, social activities, and
relationships.
What Are the Symptoms of GAD?
GAD affects the way a person thinks, but the anxiety can lead to physical
symptoms, as well. Symptoms of GAD can include:
- Excessive, ongoing worry and tension
- An unrealistic view of problems
- Restlessness...
Read the Anxiety article »
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