Suicide (cont.)
What are the risk factors and protective factors for suicide?
Ethnically, the highest suicide rates in the United States occur in
non-Hispanic whites and in Native Americans. The lowest rates are in
non-Hispanic blacks, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics. Former Eastern bloc countries currently have
the highest suicide rates worldwide, while South America has the lowest. Geographical patterns of suicides are such that individuals
who live in a rural area versus urban area and the western United States versus
the eastern United States are at higher risk for killing themselves. The
majority of suicide completions take place during the spring.
In most countries, women continue to attempt suicide more often, but men tend
to complete suicide more often. Although the frequency of suicides for young
adults has been increasing in recent years, elderly Caucasian males continue to
have the highest suicide rate. Other risk factors for taking one's life include
single marital status, unemployment, low income, mental illness, a history of
being physically or sexually abused, a personal history of suicidal thoughts,
threats or behaviors, or a family history of attempting suicide.
Data regarding mental illnesses as risk factors indicate that depression,
manic depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse, eating disorders, and severe
anxiety increase the probability of suicide attempts and completions. Nine out of 10 people who commit suicide have a
diagnosable mental illness and up to three out of four individuals who
take their own life had a physical illness when they committed suicide. Behaviors that tend to be linked with
suicide attempts and completions include violence against others and
self-mutilation, like slitting one's wrists or other body parts, or burning
oneself.
Generally, the absence of mental illness, including substance abuse, as well
as the presence of a strong social support system, decrease the likelihood that
a person will kill him- or herself. Having children who are younger than 18
years of age also tends to be a protective factor against mothers committing
suicide.
Next: What are the signs and symptoms for suicide? »
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