What does the word suicide mean to you? What mental pictures come to mind when you hear someone mention the word suicide?

Facts about suicide:

The Problem:

• Suicide took the lives of 31,284 Americans in 1995 (11.9 per 100,000 population).
• More people die from suicide than from homicide in the United States. In 1995, 22,552 Americans died from homicide (8.58 per 100,000 population).
• Overall, suicide is the ninth leading cause of death for all Americans, and is the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24. *Show 10 Leading Causes of Death….
• Although the age-adjusted suicide rate has remained constant since the 1940s, suicide rates have shifted for some groups during the period between 1980 and 1992. For example, suicide rates have increased among persons between the ages of 10 and 19, among young black males, and among elderly males. Suicide rates for middle-aged adults declined during this period, but, for the first time since the 1930s, increased among Americans over the age of 60.
• Nearly 60% of all suicides are committed with a firearm.
• In 1995, more than 90% of all suicides in this country were among whites, with males accounting for 73% and females 18% of all suicides. However, during the period from 1979-1992, suicide rates for Native Americans (a category that includes American Indians and Alaska Natives) were about 1.5 times the national rates. There was a disproportionate number of suicides among young male Native Americans during this period, as males 15-24 accounted for 64% of all suicides by Native Americans.
• Suicide among black youths, once uncommon, has increased sharply in recent years. In 1980, the rate of black suicide for teens 15-19 more than doubled from 3.6 per 100,000 to 8.1 per 100,000. Although white teens still have a higher rate of suicide, the gap is narrowing.

Get help by calling the National Suicide Prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255
SuicideHotlines.com at: 1.800.SUICIDE (784-2433)
Canadian crisis hotlines

Who are the people who commit suicide?

1. 10 % do so for no apparent reason.

2. 25% are mentally unstable.

3. 40% commit suicide on an impulse, during a period of emotional upset. The stress is momentarily overwhelming…. They are most likely to call for help and are the easiest to help. Need support, understanding through the crisis…and how to handle problems.

4. 25% commit suicide after giving it quiet consideration, weighing the pros and cons of living and dying. They feel that suicide is the best alternative.

Scripture: several instances of suicide…Abimelech (Judges 9:54); Samson (Judges 16:28-31), Saul (1 Sam. 31:1-6), Saul’s armor-bearer (1Chron. 10), Ahithopel (2 Sam. 17:23) and Zimri (1 Kings 16:18). Judas Iscariot (Matt. 27:3-10).

Myths about suicide:

1. Suicide and attempted suicide are in the same class of behavior. Attempted suicide is carried out usually by one who has some desire to live. It is a cry for help.

2. Suicide is a problem of a specific class of people. Suicide is no respector of persons in socioeconomic class, race, etc. Slightly higher rate among white males…(show table).

3. People who talk about suicide don’t commit suicide. 80% of people who take their life have communicated their intention to someone prior to the act. Any threats or hints must be taken seriously.

4. Once a person is suicidal, he is suicidal forever… Not true. Many have found answers to their problems and no longer remain suicidal.

5. Suicide is inherited or runs in families. The tendencies are not inherited but can be influencing factors.

6. If a person is a Christian, he will not commit suicide. Not true. Christians do experience all kinds of physical and emotional disorders in their life, no one is immune.

7. Suicide and depression are synonymous. Depression is not a sign of suicidal thoughts. Many depressed people do not entertain thoughts of suicide.

8. Improvement after a suicidal crisis means that the risk of suicide is over. Studies show that almost half of the persons who were in a suicidal crisis and later actually committed suicide did so within 3 months of having passed through their first crisis. The period of time immediately following a suicidal crisis appears to be critical. If a person immediately states that his problems are solved and seems overly happy, we ought to be wary and concerned.

Who is at high risk?
The signs of suicidal intention

1. The suicidal Attempt is the most clear and dramatic cry for help. Needs immediate help and support.

2. The suicidal threat. Any kind of threat should be taken seriously.

3. The suicidal hint. “You would be better off without me,” “Life has lost all meaning for me,” or “It’s just that I hate to face each day more and more.” A Christian may ask, “Does a person who commits suicide lose his salvation?” or “What does God really think of a person who takes his own life?”

4. Suicidal activity. Making sure all the bills are paid, making out a will, making arrangements as though athe person were going to take a long trip…. But don’t be analyzing every person’s activities..

5. Suicidal Symptoms. Long serious illness. Sudden changes in personality…easily upset, moody, anxious, agitated. Alcoholics have a high incidence of suicide. Agitated depression is one of the most serious signs. Depressed person who becomes withdrawn..staying indoors for long periods of time… Loss of appetite, weight, etc.

6. Recent crisis. Many suicides have been in response to some immediate and specific stress. Death of a loved one, failure at work or school, marital or home problems, loss of a job, a broken romance, financial reversal, divorce or separation.

Resource: Training Christians to Counsel by Norman Wright

Suicide Facts

Completed suicides, U.S., 1995

Suicide was the 9th leading cause of death in the United States.

The 1995 age-adjusted rate was 11.13/100,000, or .011%

Only 1.3% of total deaths were from suicide. By contrast, 32% were from diseases of the heart, 23% were from malignant neoplasms (cancer), and 6.8% from cerebrovascular disease (stroke), the three leading causes

The total number of suicide deaths was 31,284

Suicide by firearms was the most common method for both men and women, accounting for 59% of all suicides

More men than women die by suicide

The gender ratio is 4.6:1

Over 73% of all suicides are committed by white men

79% of all firearm suicides are committed by white men

The highest suicide rates were for white men over 85, who had a rate of 68.2/100,000.

However, suicide was not the leading cause of death for this age group.

Suicide was the 3rd leading cause of death among young people 15 to 24 years of age, following unintentional injuries and homicide. The rate was 13.3/100,000, or .013%

The suicide rate among children ages 10-14 was 1.7/100,000, or 330 deaths among 18,860,000 children in this age group.

The suicide rate among adolescents aged 15-19 was 10.5/100,000, or 1,890 deaths among 18,060,000 adolescents in this age group

The 1995 gender ratio for this age group was 5.6:1 (males: females)

Among young people 20 to 24 years of age the suicide rate was 16.2/100,000, or 2,894

deaths among 18,580,000 people in this age group

The 1995 gender ratio for this age group was 6.4:1 (males: females)

Research Findings
Suicide is a complex behavior. The risk factors for suicide frequently occur in combination. Scientific research has shown that almost all people who kill themselves have a diagnosable mental or substance abuse disorder; and the majority have more than one disorder.

Clinical research has shown that alterations in neurotransmitters/neuromodulators such as serotonin can increase risk for suicide. These altered levels have been found in patients with depression, violent suicide attempts and impulsive disorders, and also in postmortem brains of suicide victims.

Adverse life events in combination with other strong risk factors such as mental or substance abuse disorders and impulsivity, may lead to suicide. However, suicide and suicidal behavior are not normal responses to the stresses experienced by most people. Many people experience one or more risk factors and are not suicidal.

More Research Findings

Familial factors in highly dysfunctional families can be associated with suicide
Family history of mental or substance abuse disorder

Family history of suicide

Family violence, including physical or sexual abuse

Other risk factors include

Prior suicide attempt

Firearm in the home

Incarceration

Exposure to the suicidal behavior of others, including family members, peers, and/or via the media in news or fiction stories .

Attempted Suicides

No national data on attempted suicide are available; reliable scientific research, however, has found that:
There are an estimated 8-25 attempted suicides to one completion; the ratio is higher in women and youth and lower in men and the elderly.

More women than men report a history of attempted suicide, with a gender ratio of about 2:1.

The strongest risk factors for attempted suicide in adults are depression, alcohol abuse, cocaine use, and separation or divorce.

The strongest risk factors for attempted suicide in youth are depression, alcohol or other drug use disorder, and aggressive or disruptive behaviors.

The majority of suicide attempts are expressions of extreme distress that need to be addressed, and not just a harmless bid for attention.

A suicide prevention or crisis center:

National Suicide Prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255
SuicideHotlines.com at: 1.800.SUICIDE (784-2433)
Canadian crisis hotlines

The purpose of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) is to understand and prevent suicide. AAS promotes research, public awareness programs, and education and training for professional, survivors, and interested lay persons. AAS serves as a national clearinghouse for information on suicide. It has many resources and publications which are available to the general public and to its members. For membership, publications and resource information, contact:

American Association Of Suicidology

4201 Connecticut, Ave., NW. Suite 310

(202) 237-2280

Helping the Suicidal Person