I always thought suicide was more common with teenagers. Once I started reading about it, I discovered that it was in fact true: suicide is comparatively high in the 15 to 24 age group.
Once I read that, I wanted to know more. What is the real reason behind suicide? Why do people depend on suicide? Is it preventable?
Suicide IS preventable. Most people who attempt suicide want to live, really, but they're too overcome with emotional pain and they can't see any other way to handle their situations than to end their lives. Many factors can lead to suicide, such as loss, addictions, childhood trauma or other forms of trauma, depression, serious physical illness, bullying, or major life changes.
According to Canada's suicide prevention website, suicideprevention.ca, four out of five people who die by suicide have made one previous attempt. Also, I discovered that males die from suicide more than three times as often as females, but three times more females than males attempt suicide.
Today in Canada (just Canada), approximately 210 people will try to end their lives, and 11 will succeed. It made me upset to read that online.
I also found out that suicide is a critical public health issue in Canada. For instance, suicide is one of the top ten leading causes of death with rates increasing over the past 60 years.
Did you know, that in 2009, suicide was ranked as the 9th leading cause of death in Canada? According to Statistics Canada, there were 3,890 suicides, at a rate of 11.5 per 100,000 people in 2009.
The suicide rate for males was 3 times higher than the rate for females. That means that 2,989 males died by suicides compared to 901 females.
Isn't that horrible? I think it is.
Guess what? Based on data from the Canadian Community health survey, 14.7% of Canadians have thought about suicide, and 3.5% have took action in attempting suicide.
Learning that, I decided to do even MORE research on this incredibly moving and troublesome topic.
Every year, almost one million people die from suicide. That's one death, every 40 seconds! I always thought that suicide was a rare way to die. Little did I know, that suicide happens every day in our world.
While I was reading articles on Canada's suicide prevention website, I found a piece of information that wowed me: suicide accounts for more loss of life around the world than deaths from WAR, ACTS OF TERRORISM, AND HOMOCIDE, combined!
Knowing this really bugs me to the maximum. I just don't understand why people turn to suicide to solve their problems. They don't deserve to die, not at all!
As I was reading more information online, I stopped to think to myself "what can we do? What can be done to stop this suicide madness?"
Suicidal people, like everyone else, need love, respect, understanding and care. People usually don't ask directly, "are you feeling that miserable that you're thinking about suicide?" Those thinking about suicide are usually holding in their feelings which will make their thoughts much stronger. It also increases the feelings of isolation and increases the likelihood that they may actually make the attempt.
Asking (directly) if they are suicidal opens the door for them. Furthermore, it can have the effect that they're given the permission to feel the way they do. That reduces their isolation and they may feel that someone is actually listening to them and cares and can also understand how they're feeling.
If someone you know tells you that they feel suicidal, LISTEN to them. Then listen more. You should tell them how you feel about it, and you should tell them that you don't want them to die. Try to make yourself available to hear about how they feel and try to form a "no-suicide contract" with them. Ask them to promise you that they won't attempt suicide or anything that would be self destructive until they can contact you or someone else who can give them some support.
