Young men in particular, between the ages of 15 and 34, are becoming increasingly successful at ending their lives. Hanging and car exhaust fumes, which are unpleasant ways to go for the individual and those around then, are the exit routes most often chosen.
Who's at greater risk of suicide?
People who already have a mental health illness are at a greater risk of committing suicide. Depression especially is associated with a particularly high risk.
The teenage years can be difficult at the best of times. Emotional and physical development brings with it the turmoil associated with body changes and a desire for independence. Problems with drugs and alcohol, the law, and school, are common at this time in life and associated with a higher risk of overdose and subsequent suicide.
At the other end of the spectrum, for many people getting older brings much loss. Loved ones and friends pass on, ill-health and loss of independence are most common.
Look out for risk factors
We all feel down from time to time but most of us wouldn't think that things are so bad that life isn't worth continuing with. However, some things do put a person at greater risk of suicide and should be looked out for.
Having tried once someone is far more likely to try again, and be successful. One in ten teenagers who takes an overdose will kill themselves within a few years.
Living alone and feeling isolated, whether because of divorce, unemployment, or bereavement, often makes people question if 'life is worth living'. Suffering with a painful chronic illness that prevents someone getting on with their life or mental health illnesses such as severe depression, alcoholism or drug misuse, for example, should flag up the possibility that that person is more likely to consider suicide as a solution to their problems.
These are not exclusive and being able to tick one or more of these risk factors doesn't mean a person is definitely going to kill him or herself. Likewise, crossing them out doesn't mean everything's all right. It's just important to be aware, and prepared.
Offer a helping hand or listening ear
There are people who would argue that if somebody is intent on killing him or herself then there's little that any one of us can do to prevent it. To a degree this may be true, but it doesn't mean we should sit back and let them get on with it.
Get the person to talk about the way they're feeling, why they want to die, and just listen to them. There's no need to dive in with miraculous solutions to their problems, they probably won't work for them anyway. A person considering suicide needs support, understanding and to know that there's professional help available for them.
It's important that the person offering support knows that they're not alone in this too. It can be a frightening and worrying experience to go through.
Sometimes it may be difficult to see how things can get better, but things usually do. Time, with a little help, is a great healer.
This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in May 2005.
First published in October 1997.
Suicide News:
Obsession or Excuse - I've been married for 2 years and love my husband. But!!! I'm not too happy about his relationship with his ex.
My husband is really into dogs and I don't mind that. We recently moved out of state away from his ex. Here's the catch. They have a dog and he keeps in touch with her for the dog, "Supposedly." I don't know if he has an obsession with dogs or he's making an excuse to keep in touch with his ex.
We rescued a dog from an animal shelter and I feel like that didn't help him forget this other dog. I maybe a jealous chick but I've got my reasons. How is it possible to keep in touch with his ex just for a dog as if it was a child. I just can't understand it.
I heard so many bad things about this woman from many people including my husband. So, why keep in touch with someone like that. It doesn't seem right to me!! I have even spoken to her and she doesn't seem mean but, when I talk about the dog and to keep in touch with me not my husband, she gets offensive and texts my husband and, of course, I see the texts she writes without him knowing it. She texts bad things about me and he doesn't even defend me.
I want him to keep his distance from her. I'm the wife and I should be the one feeling comfortable about the situation. He needs to give me some respect as his wife and take into consideration my feelings.
Please help!! What should I do???
Is Erotic Transference Permanent? - "Good Lord," I wish I had known about this before entering therapy many years ago. Once these feelings emerged they have not stopped and it seems permanent. The only solution seems to be to change therapists but I am too attached and know if I do that I'll break down. I don't discuss it with him anymore, haven't for years. Probably not good but what else can I do? I once thought he felt similar but probably just a projection on my part. Sometimes the feelings are so strong I want to die because it won't happen. Isn't that so wrong? I wish he would act on these feelings...perhaps then it would go away. He could be terrible in bed...that would make it go away. I shouldn't joke but what else can I do? Leaving isn't an option.
Why my Emotional Relationships With Men Don't Last? - I am a really beautiful and attractive woman with a hottie body and 24 years old. I have never had long lasting relationship with a man. All ends badly and I get dumped!!. When being in a relationships with men it seems that they lose interest fast and act less caring for me. The opposite happens at the beginning when they are very interested but, once they know me for 1 week, they lose interest! Then they leave me and I feel alone.Maybe my appearance shows the opposite of my personality? Well, I dress attractively and wear tight clothes that fit my curved body and I wear high heels!! Why am I being dumped even though I tend to be long term woman or a woman who wants a long term relationship. Maybe they are stupid and lose a woman like me, or maybe I go for the wrong type, like "players"?? And yah! Once I ignore men, they chase me. I wanna have healthy relationships that last.
What do you do When Your Partner Just Won't Understand or Change? - I have been with my girlfriend for 3 years. I am 41 she is 34. I am somewhat neurotic but nothing serious. She, on the other hand, has had a lifelong time of troubles, neurosis, running away from and becoming shy. She met me and I thought I could save her, or show her the way. Nothing major just show her the world isn't so evil. She doesn't trust anyone and thinks people are inherently evil. I thought I could show her there is a better life for her. Alas, after 3 years of about 10+ breakups and getting back together, the "Oh I promise I will change," or, "You are the one who needs to change," and after I finally agreed to get therapy myself, I feel like its a dead end. She is a lovely woman, with a heart of gold, who has issues but no matter how much I try to help her she just doesn't get it. She just won't let me in. Yet, she says she loves me and wants to be with me. I really care about her, but I am not sure if I really love her, because I wish she would fix these issues... then I could love her. I know that's not right but I can't break free of her and I wish she would let me help her... What do I do?
Depressed, Anxious and Dead Inside...Please Help! - I'm a 23 yr old female. I've been housebound since May 2011. I have been seeing a therapist since September but haven't noticed any improvement. I am not on any medication. I feel dead inside and out of touch with my feelings. I don't know what my priorities or goals are or what direction I should give to my life and relationships. I suffer from issues of codependency and have been physically, sexually and emotionally abused in the past. I live alone and spend 14 hours a day in front of the TV. Please help! I want to have a life but I don't know what I can do. Help me.
Broken - I have not been myself for years and its due to changes in my life around me. As a teenager I saw a psychiatrist and was given Aderol and anti-depressents to get me through school. I had trouble comprehending what we were learning and completely distracted by everything around me. After High School I learned my dad had Bipolar Disorder and that he had similar problem as me, but I didn't believe I had Bipolar Disorder. I continued to see different doctors to get help because I always felt there was more to "it," my problem, than what all these doctors were finding. I was always told I was either depressed or had anxiety because I got serious chest pains for no reason. I agree that I do have anxiety. My chest pains have no noticeable trigger. I have taken so many medications that I lost count. As of the past 3 years I have just become completely broken. In 2009 my mom was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer, had multiple surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy. Then, in 2010, my dad was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer. He passed away in Oct. of 2011. His battle with cancer was horrific and painful. My moms cancer is genetic and I have a 50% chance of having it. If you add my dads cancer from his side of the family, I feel very scared. I have no interest in anything in life whatsoever anymore. I have a husband and 2 children who I take care of to the best of my ability. My life is consumed by cleaning. It's the only thing I can do to get my mind off of all the negatives in the world around me. I do not socialize, I do not make friends. I am uncomfortable around people. I attend college but it is now a chore to me. I only enjoy going to school as a way to keep my mind busy. I feel like I live in my head all day and night and am consumed with thoughts of pain, heartache and confusion. I cant get out of there. My friends and family tell me I am different and they want me to get better. But I don't know what better is? Please help me.
I am Only 26 Years Old - My husband constantly gives me digs. He acts like everything I say has another meaning behind it. He has to know who I am texting and has supposedly found me, multiple times, on Internet porn sites. The fact is that I have never even held another man's hand let alone what he accuses me of doing. He curses me with the most degrading names possible. He pulls my blankets off while I sleep to see "what I am doing" even if I am completely asleep. I've been choked, pulled by my hair and kidnapped against my will multiple times. When I tell him I am done he will take everything from me: keys, purse and telephone and then try to kick me out. He will tell me that he is going to hurt my family because they are in on "it."He randomly calls me through the day and say that he is going to kill a new employee at my job because he knows "something is going on." I married when him when I was only 19 because I was so in love. Deep down I know he really loves me. He always comes home when he is supposed to. He doesn't even think of other women and loves being a good dad. Then there is my side where I am the victim and I want to run so far away from him that I never see him again. How can he go from locking me in a room and calling me "a dirty nasty whore" in front of my child and stepchildren to telling me how he loves me and wants to give me the world and die for me? I love my husband more than any man in this world and want to continue a family with him for the rest of my life. But, I get to the point of knowing I deserve respect and dignity. Is this really my life? Anyone with give me advice please respond. I didn't know he has an actual mental disorder until I looked it up today. I have been telling my husband he is in a completely delusional state because of the off the wall accusations he makes. I am married to him for 7 years and I'm only 26. I am always walking on eggshells around him. I have no life and I have my own depression issues. At 19 I took on his 3 stepchildren and now have one child of my own. This is a horrible situation.Stacey
Why do I Feel Like Everyone is Trying to Upset me? - I go through stages every few months where I feel completely over emotional and really upset. I feel like all the people around me are actually trying to piss me off or upset me even though I know they aren't because they couldn't care less about how down I have been. I feel really left out and ignored. I'm not an attention seeker, I really hate people like that, but I feel abandoned by those I thought would care. Small little things really bother me and make me so angry. I'm glad I have enough self control not to punch someone out for every small thing that sets me off. Then, after all this emotion and upset for about a week or two, I'll be fine again for another few months. What is wrong with me?
Preventing Unwarranted Conflict - I seem to start conflicts, arguments, in my romantic relationship out of nowhere and over nothing. My partner is caring and sweet and yet I sometimes go on the attack almost out of nowhere. I don’t know how to stop this from happening. I just go on the offensive and then feel awful about it later. I’m an extremely anxious person and worry about the state of my relationship. I’m happy a lot of the time and want to do what I can to keep these random bursts of conflict from happening. It’s almost as if I start to go on the attack and just can’t stop myself from doing it. Is there anything I can do to make this stop happening?
Should I be Worried? - Hi. I am a married man. I have this obsession with male office "players." What I mean is, men that try to sleep with every woman in the office and succeed at doing it. I guess they have always caused me high anxiety until a few years ago. I was dating a woman before I got married who turned out to be using me because she was in love with another man. Since then, I've learned how to spot this type of man. The typical signs are that they ask every woman out. It doesn't matter if the women are short, tall, old, young, thin, heavy, married or unmarried. I guess what is disturbing to me is that it seems like it works for these men. Its as if they have some secret ability to press women's buttons. Some people, especially men, would just tell me I'm jealous. Maybe that I am because I wish I could do the same thing. There were times before I was married that I wished that I had this ability. But, When I think it through, especially since I have a good married life, I know that it's not jealousy. For example, I've noticed that most of these men have no stable life. Most of them are divorced or never married and have to make child support payments. I've seen and heard things about some of them involving abortions and diseases. Any potential jealousy I could have ends there. I know I can think it out and see the negative consequences and they can't. I guess my problem is that, if they are so successful at it, could my wife fall for this? She works at an office with plenty of males. I've never had jealousy issues with her. After observing these types of men for so many years, I guess I've come to believe that no woman is immune and that we're all just a bunch of animals who can be manipulated if the other person knows how. I’ve tried to stop thinking about it and ignore the behavior of these men. But, just when I’m almost there, another one shows up in the office or in a class I’m taking and I start thinking about it again. What do you think?
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