Recent Research on Suicide
Exploring the Factors Leading to Suicidal Thoughts & Attempts
Depression and suicide can be related, but depression doesn't necessarily lead to suicidal thoughts. Other factors have a stronger connection to suicide than depression.
Suicide is a taboo subject in many homes and communities, which means certain myths about suicide can easily override the realities. It's critical to be aware of the intricacies of suicide, especially because some experts believe it's "catching." This means that if a teenager or partner takes his life, his friends or partner are more likely to do the same. Research on suicide shows this isn't always true.
Recent Research on Suicide & Psychological Disorders
Women whose partners have been admitted to psychiatric units because of psychological disorders are seven times more likely to attempt suicide than those whose partners are mentally stable (Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2005). Men whose partners struggle with mental illnesses such as depression are four times more likely to attempt suicide. While depression doesn't cause suicide, there is a correlation between psychological disorders and suicide.
Men who lost their partners to suicide were 46 times more likely to kill themselves. They are less likely to seek help and may have untreated or undetected mental health issues.
Whether people who are likely to commit suicide tend to attract one another is a possibility, making suicide less "catching" in the traditional sense. That is, a person won't necessarily consider killing themselves simply because their partner did – unless they were drawn together due to similar characteristics that may lead to suicide.
Research on Suicide Rates and Depression
Older white males have the highest rates of suicide, possibly because they have few strong interpersonal relationships. Anorexics, athletes, prostitutes, and physicians also have higher rates of suicide than other people. Thomas Joiner (Florida State University Professor of Psychology) believes it's because they're exposed to pain and may be hardened to suffering. They've learned to be fearless and have become accustomed to fear, danger and pain. They become less intimidated by self-injury and dangerous situations because they're exposed to it on a daily basis – making suicidal thoughts easier to pursue.
Joiner maintains that people who commit suicide have overcome their natural instinct for self-preservation. People who commit suicide feel they are a burden to others and that they don't belong; together, these feelings provide a strong motivation towards death.
Thomas Joiner is an internationally recognized suicide expert who wrote a book called Why People Die by Suicide. His goal is to understand suicide in order to be effective in suicide prevention.
Recent Research on Male and Female Suicide Rates
The University of Bristol in Britain found that women think about suicide more often than men, but men kill themselves more often than women. This may be because women are more comfortable seeking and accepting help than men. Suicide prevention may "work" better with women.
Suicidal thoughts are more frequent in people who are:
- 16-24 years old
- single, cohabitating, or widowed
- experiencing low levels of social support (few family and friends)
- dealing with poverty or low socio-economic status
- unemployed
Many people consider suicide or killing themselves at some point. Sometimes the pain of loss, grief, stress, and tragedy can be overwhelming to the point of despair. If you hear someone talk about suicide, don't shrug it off. Follow up on their thoughts and feelings because they may be reaching out to you – and to life. Suicide prevention is about really listening and following your gut.
If you found Recent Research on Suicide helpful, you might like to read:
