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:
Error:MagpieRSS: Failed to parse RSS file. (> required at line 46, column 34)
All content within MensHealthOnly.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. MensHealthOnly.com is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of MensHealthOnly.com website.
|
