Make sure you like our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/dieempty1 Throughout history, the very idea of self-murder or suicide has called forth such emotions as anger, admiration, patriotic pride, disgust, sympathy, curiosity and fear. Many of these responses are determined by social factors and norms operating in the specific culture in which the suicide is accomplished. A society, such as twentieth-first century United States, places high value on wellness and life and tends to view suicide with horror, shame and antagonism. On the other hand, the Japanese culture has historically viewed some suicides as honor-saving acts or patriotic feats. Even within the health care systems, personnel have had a difficult time viewing and discussing suicide. The very act of self-destruction is antithetical to the health-care mission to save lives and promote health. Suicide is a broad term that is often used to describe the ideation, attempt and completion of self-inflicted cessation. In essence, suicide can be viewed as aggression directed inward. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. It is believed by many suicidologists that the number of reported suicides is only the tip of the iceberg. It is theorized that for every reported suicide attempt or completion there are ten that go unreported. Males are three times more likely to commit suicide that females. However, females attempt suicide more than males at a rate of 3:1. Men tend to use more lethal means to commit suicide, such as firearms or hanging, whereas women tend to attempt suicide by overdosing, poisoning or cutting. This means that there is little or no chance of men being rescued. Approximately for every completed suicide there are eight to ten attempts. Of the people who complete suicide, 80% have had at least one suicide attempt. Of those individuals, who attempt suicide, 12% will have succeeded in killing themselves within two years. Most suicides and attempts occur during the winter months. The least number of suicides are attempted and completed in the summer and fall. Suicidal ideation may be passing thoughts or repetitive and intense serious considerations of suicide. Research has indicated that any given time, 10%-15% of the general population has suicidal wishes whereas at least 75% of depressed people consider suicide. Persons at high risk for suicide include the elderly, white, Protestant males; adolescents; college students; alcoholics; drug abusers; depressed individuals; those downwardly mobile in the socioeconomic status; and people who have experienced interpersonal loss. Suicide generally increases with age; however the number of suicides in the 15 to 24-year-old age-group has been steadily increasing. Variables such as marriage, religion, and race influence suicide. Married people over the age of 23 have a lower suicide rate than nonmarried people. However, below age 23, married individuals have a higher suicide rate. Jews have a low rate of suicide, usually attributed to cultural and religious emphasis on family. Protestants have a high rate of suicide whereas Catholics exhibit low rates. American whites have a much higher suicide rate than African-Americans, although African-American suicide is increasing. White suicides are more pronounced in the older age-groups, whereas African-Americans have a higher suicide rate between ages of 20 and 35. Native Americans exhibit a very high rate of suicide. Methods of suicide used by these three groups varies. American whites utilize self-inflicted means whereas African-Americans employ methods where someone else (i.e. law enforcement officers) is forced to kill them. Native Americans commit suicide through "accidents," where only the individual is involved. Suicide rates tend to much higher in industrialized, urban setting contrasted to rural areas, which tend to be nurturing and family oriented.

• published: 20 Mar 2018
• views: 7