SUICIDE
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
[United States ONLY]
Today is another day of
mourning. Someone I once knew, who was respected by all that knew her, decided
it was time to leave this world. The consequences resulting from her decision
will impact those close to her, as well as those of us who were influenced by experiences
we shared with her.
“I think suicide is sort of like cancer was 50 years ago.
People don't want to talk about it, they don't want to know about it. People
are frightened of it, and they don't understand, when actually these issues are
medically treatable.”
-Judy Collins
Let’s start with some definitions:
Suicide
·
Death caused by self-directed injurious behavior
with an intent to die as a result of the behavior.
Suicide attempt
·
A non-fatal, self-directed, potentially
injurious behavior with an intent to die as a result of the behavior; might not
result in injury.
Suicidal ideation
·
Thinking about, considering, or planning
suicide.
“There is but one truly serious philosophical problem and
that is suicide.”
-Albert Camus
The stigmatization of people with mental health issues ends now! Too
often people do not seek the help they desperately need to avoid being labeled as someone who cannot
handle the stressors of life- psychological and
physiological. “Broken”, “Disturbed”, “Insane”, “Brain Dead”, “Handicapped”, “Stupid”; these are just a few
of the labels used to demonize someone with a mental illness, and to worsen
their mental health.
“They tell us that suicide is the greatest piece of cowardice...
that suicide is wrong; when it is quite obvious that there is nothing in the
world to which every man has a more unassailable title than to his own life and
person.”
-Arthur Schopenhauer
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
[United States ONLY]
Here is a link to 250 labels
used for people who are afflicted by a mental health illness published by the
National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine,
National Institute of Health:
Why has suicide become an
increasingly popular way to die? Statistics
do not lie. Younger and younger people choose to end their lives, to end the
suffering they endure.
“It is always consoling to think of suicide: in that way one
gets through many a bad night.”
-Friedrich Nietzsche
Here is a link to the CDC 10
leading causes of death by Age Group, United States- 2014
·
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among
Americans.
As you can see Suicide was
the second leading cause of death amongst 10-34 year olds. To put this in
perspective this would include anyone born from 1982-2006. For anyone between
the ages of 35-54 (1972-1981) it is the fourth highest leading cause of death. Why?
“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.”
-Phil Donahue
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
[United States ONLY]
According to the CDC:
Risk Factors
·
Family history of suicide
·
Family history of child maltreatment
·
Previous suicide attempt(s)
·
History of mental disorders, particularly clinical depression
·
History of alcohol and substance abuse
·
Feelings of hopelessness
·
Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
·
Cultural and religious beliefs (e.g., belief that suicide is noble
resolution of a personal dilemma)
·
Local epidemics of suicide
·
Isolation, a feeling of being cut off from other people
·
Barriers to accessing mental health treatment
·
Loss (relational, social, work, or financial)
·
Physical illness
·
Easy access to lethal methods
·
Unwillingness to seek help because of the stigma attached to mental
health and substance abuse disorders or to suicidal thoughts
“Cutting, and suicide, two very different symptoms of the
same problem, are gaining on us. I personally don't know a single person who
doesn't know at least two of these victims personally.”
-Pink
“Fame is no sanctuary from the passing of youth... suicide
is much easier and more acceptable in Hollywood than growing old gracefully.”
-Julie Burchill
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
[United States ONLY]
To answer the question as to
why, I think an evaluation of federal government spending will help us.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
[United States ONLY]
The federal
government spends about six percent on Medicare and Health combined. Exactly
how much funds federal, state, and local organizations receive and use
specifically for mental health are debatable, due to the unreliability of
sources, and the lack of a system to adequately track such information. The
estimates I have found range anywhere between 1%-5%; i.e. 3-5 billion dollars. Some
go as high as 7 billion, but I cannot verify the accuracy of this information.
The entities in the following list are where I found the above:
World Health
Organization, National Alliance of the Mentally Ill, Penn State University,
Agency for Healthcare Research, just to name a few.
There is too
much emphasis on Military spending; this much is blatantly obvious. The tools
of conflict and fear have been used to persuade the citizens of this country to
be idle while the military-industrial complex cripples other industry,
undermines our educational institutions, and degrades the mental health of the
citizens of this country.
It is not
surprise to me that people who were born after 1980 are more susceptible to symptoms,
and are more likely to choose suicide over life, than those of previous
generations. Why is this? The United States has been at War for most of the last
century. What is different?
Ethics. The wars
of the first half of the century involved many nations who allied to prevent
tyrannical powers from usurping national and international governing authority.
Since 1990 the United States has been involved with conflicts in Eastern Europe
and the middle east, which have questionable motives. Oil (maybe other
resources too), strategic geographical positions, political and economic
influence, and isolated economic prosperity are a few of the reasons for these
wars and conflicts.
Our species is
inherently inclined to be compassionate. This is due to our subconscious
understanding that our species is more likely to survive, if our overall number
is greater (as population size increase so does our statistical probability of
survival. Therefore, these irrational, and unethical conflicts and wars the
United States Government, in association with the Central Intelligence Agency,
have cause a mental dilemma for anyone witnessing these events.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
[United States ONLY]
The stagnation
of wages, coupled with the inflation of costs for goods and services only
strengthens the stressors endured by individuals already afflicted by this Philosophy of War adopted by the United
States of America.
Some of you may
not know this already; I once succumbed to the overwhelming power of apathy
insomuch this life did not seem worth living. The aforementioned ideas, in
conjunction with my desire for freedom from my own suffering (the human
condition), stirred a passion to choose suicide. I was lucky. Friends and loved
ones retaught me the value of life, and years of therapy rehabilitated me into
the person I am today.
"If God does not exist, then all will is mine, and I am
obliged to proclaim self-will." Alexei
Nilych Kirillov
- The Possessed
(Demons) by Fyodor Dostoyevksy
“Suicide is man's way of telling God, 'You can't fire me - I
quit.'”
- Bill
Maher
What are the consequences of
such an action?
According to the CDC:
Costs to Society: The
following estimates are based on 2010 CDC data and refer to people age 10 and
over.2
·
Suicide costs society over $44.6 billion a year
in combined medical and work loss costs.
·
The average suicide costs $1,164,499.
Survivors: A survivor
of suicide is a family member or friend of a person who died by suicide.
·
Surviving the loss of loved one to suicide is a
risk factor for suicide.3
·
Surviving family members and close friends are
deeply impacted by each suicide and experience a range of complex grief
reactions including, guilt, anger, abandonment, denial, helplessness, and
shock.4,5
·
No exact figure exists, but it is estimated that
a median of between 6 and 32 survivors exist for each suicide, depending on the
definition used.6
·
According to another estimate, approximately 7%
of the U.S. population knew someone who died of suicide during the past 12
months.7
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
[United States ONLY]
“When you’re young and healthy you can plan on Monday to
commit suicide, and by Wednesday you’re laughing again.”
– Marilyn Monroe
What is the Impact of
Suicide within the United States?
“We look for the sermon in the suicide, for the social or
moral lesson in the murder of five. We interpret what we see, select the most
workable of the multiple choices.”
-Joan Didion
Each year, more than 39,000 Americans end their own lives,
nearly 500,000 people are treated in U.S. emergency departments for
self-inflicted injuries, and 1 million adults report making a suicide attempt.
Many more people struggle with thoughts of suicide.
Suicide is a serious public health problem that affects
people of all ages. It is the 10th leading cause of death for Americans overall
and the second leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults aged
15-29. Suicide and suicidal behavior can have devastating effects on
individuals, families, schools and communities.
Here is a link to prevention strategies listed on the CDC
website:
“Did you really want to die? No one commits suicide because
they want to die. Then why do they do it? Because they want to stop the pain.”
– Tiffanie DeBartolo
Buddhism is a philosophy
which also helped me on my path to recovery. The First Noble Truth is that life
is Suffering; the Second Noble Truth is to determine the cause of Suffering;
The Third Noble Truth is the End of Suffering; and the Fourth Noble Truth is
Attainment of the End of Suffering. The eight steps to achieve the Fourth Noble
Truth are Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right
Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. Three
themes govern your eight steps: good moral conduct (Understanding, Thought,
Speech), meditation and mental development (Action, Livelihood, Effort) , wisdom
or insight (Mindfulness and Concentration).
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
[United States ONLY]
Suffering is a
sensation all of us endure- psychological and physiological. People often tell
me how positive I have become, and all I can do is be grateful for all of those
who suffered before me, and left their knowledge of how to understand it, and
more importantly, benefit from your suffering. Life, both the negative and
positive, is an experience so abstract it should not even exist. This is why after
learning of Buddhism I try my best to appreciate every experience I live.
“No law can give or take away the choice to commit suicide.”
-Maggie Gallagher
It is our responsibility
to educate and empower our fellow people to live healthy and positive lives. We
cannot expect congress to act on our behalf. We must act. You and I are the
only people who can choose to address this issue. In doing so we can begin to
address all of the issues that are correlated to our mental health.
First and
foremost, we must stop using the terminology “commit or committed”. This is the
linguistic equivalent of calling someone insane, and when either is used it can
cause the listener to equate the act with someone who committed murder or rape.
These people chose their end. Never forget that. Remember the words you choose
to use affect those who hear the sounds.
Second, we must
stop stigmatizing those who suggest they might be depressed, overly anxious, or
state they cannot handle the stressors of their life; this can be exemplified
with body language, as much as speech. People go to school for many years to
learn how to rehabilitate those who are afflicted with a mental illness. Many
times our internal dialogue convinces us our struggle is an individual form of suffering,
that no one could ever understand. This ideation is debilitating, and often
prevents the tormented from seeking help. Be aware of those around you, and
assist those you see with symptoms by directing them to the help they need.
Third, we must
create a national system of reliable statistical information so that we can
determine where funding is most needed. This leads to my final point.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
[United States ONLY]
Finally, we must
address government spending. This will be the most difficult because of the
divisive nature of politics, and the asinine behaviors and ideologies of our
current senators and congressman. We need new people, within the affected
demographics to sound their collective voices so that we can create positive
change in this country.
Other Useful
Information:
Protective
Factors
·
Effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance abuse
disorders
·
Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for
help seeking
·
Family and community support (connectedness)
·
Support from ongoing medical and mental health care relationships
·
Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent
ways of handling disputes
·
Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support
instincts for self-preservation
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
[United States ONLY]
This
is dedicated to all of the flowers who wilted, and cast aside their petals too
soon. I wish upon these departed people the peace and tranquility their tormented
souls craved. I send you my love.
-
Laron
