Suicide
- This article is part of the SM-201 Life's Lessons Project
Suicide
Suicide (Latin suicidium, from sui caedere, to kill oneself) is the act of terminating one's own life. Many dictionaries also note the metaphorical sense of "willful destruction of one's self-interest". Suicide may occur for a number of reasons, including depression, shame, guilt, desperation, physical pain, pressure, anxiety, financial difficulties, or other undesirable situations. Nearly one million people worldwide die by suicide annually, making it one of the world's leading causes of death. There are an estimated 10 to 20 million non-fatal attempted suicides every year.
Views on suicide have been influenced by cultural views on existential themes such as religion, honor, and the meaning of life. Most Western and some Asian religions—the Abrahamic religions, Hinduism—consider suicide a dishonorable act; in the West, it was regarded as a serious crime and an offense towards God due to religious belief in the sanctity of life. Japanese views on honor and religion led to seppuku, one of the most painful methods of suicide, to be respected as a means to atone for mistakes or failure, or as a form of protest during the samurai era. In the 20th century, suicide in the form of self-immolation has been used as a form of protest, and in the form of kamikaze and suicide bombing as a military or terrorist tactic. Sati was a Hindu funeral practice in which the widow would immolate herself on her husband's funeral pyre.
Medically assisted suicide (euthanasia, or the right to die) is a controversial ethical issue involving people who are terminally ill, in extreme pain, and/or have the minimal quality of life through injury or illness. Self-sacrifice for others is not usually considered suicide, as the goal is not to kill oneself but to save another.
The predominant view of modern medicine is that suicide is a mental health concern, associated with psychological factors such as the difficulty of coping with depression, inescapable suffering or fear, or other mental disorders and pressures. Suicide is sometimes interpreted in this framework as a "cry for help" and attention, or to express despair and the wish to escape, rather than a genuine intent to die. Most people who attempt suicide do not complete suicide on a first attempt; those who later gain a history of repetitions are significantly more at risk of eventual completion.
Impact of suicide
It is estimated that each suicide in the United States leaves an average of six people intimately affected by the death, either as a spouse, parent, significant other, sibling, or child of the deceased person. These people are referred to as survivors. Of course, this estimate does not represent the total number of people who may be affected by an individual suicide. For example, the suicide of a child may leave not only his/her immediate family to make sense of the act, but also his/her extended family, school, and the entire community.
As with any death, the family and friends of a suicide victim feel grief associated with loss. However, suicide deaths leave behind a unique set of issues for the survivors. Suicide survivors are often overwhelmed with psychological trauma that varies depending on the factors comprising the event, including the discovery of the body. The survivor's trauma can leave him/her feeling guilty, angry, remorseful, helpless, and confused. It can be especially difficult for survivors because many of their questions as to the victim's final decision are left unanswered, even if a suicide note is left behind (the "why" questions). Moreover, survivors often feel that they should have intervened in some way to prevent the suicide, even if the suicide comes as a surprise and there are no obvious warning signs. Along with this sense of regret and failure, there is sometimes relief if the survivor's relationship with the victim was difficult, strained, or otherwise complicated. Given this complex and conflicting set of emotions associated with a loved one's suicide, survivors usually find it difficult to discuss the death with others, even with those who have also faced the death of a loved one, but by some other means. These feelings cause survivors to feel isolated from their network of family and friends and often making them reluctant to form new relationships as well.
Fortunately, "survivor support groups" can offer to counsel and help bring many of the issues associated with suicide out into the open. They can also help survivors reach out to their own friends and family who may be feeling similarly and thus begin the healing process. In addition, counseling services and therapy can provide invaluable support to the bereaved. Some such groups can be found online, providing a forum for discussion amongst survivors of suicide.
Economic impact
In the United States, deaths and injuries from suicidal behavior represent $25 billion each year in direct costs including health care services, funeral services, autopsies and investigations, and indirect costs like lost productivity.
These costs may be counterbalanced by economic gains. Expenditure on those who would have continued living is reduced, including pensions, social security, health care services for those with brain disorders ("mentally ill"), as well as other normal budgetary expenditures per head of living population.
A Personal Note from Robin
Ok, why does an article about suicide appear (or belong) in SM-201?
During the past forty years, I have had several people commit voluntary and accidental suicide or attempt suicide. I think it is important for me to present my views on this topic.
Voluntary Suicide
There are times when a person feels their world collapsing about them, and they feel the only escape is to completely "absent themselves" from their problems. This is a very permanent solution to a potentially temporary problem. I personally find this to be a very selfish act. The person committing suicide has effectively said, "I have these problems and you didn't help, so now I am dead and it's your fault because you didn't help."
Involuntary Suicide
This group of people ends up committing suicide by accident.
They are getting involved in "edge play", or A person who gets involved in drugs might take an overdose. In both of these cases, the people are "inherently aware" of the potential of death, but they choose to ignore their dangers. Knowledge is power. If you wish to involve yourself with an act that "might" cause your death, and choose to ignore the risks, you will eventually cause your own accidental death. Please note I did not say "might", I said will. To prevent your own death, please become aware of safety nets, backup systems and/or avoid the activity altogether.
I, personally, will always take action to prevent death and/or suicide, whether intentional or unintentional.
See also No man is an Island
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