Suicide is an issue that is uncomfortable for many people. It is usually avoided because it is difficult for most people to understand. But we cannot ignore it. Suicide is a serious problem that occurs in almost every country in the world.
Every year, around 800,000 desperate people worldwide celebrate suicide and choose a permanent solution for a possibly temporary problem (WHO, 2018e).
Factors increase the risk of suicide
Researchers have compared various groups and categorized factors that increase the risk of suicide. The nation, the breed, the gender or the age can influence the suicide rate.
- Russia Has the double suicide rate of the United States.
- Die within the United States White and American Native people about twice as often by suicide as BPOC (Black People of Color), Latinx And people of Asian origin (Curtin & Hedegaard, 2019).
- At Fear patient the suicide risk is tripled and at Depressed Steinfflicht (Bostwick & Pankratz, 2000; Kanwar et al., 2013).
- Women and girls consider or try suicide rather than men. But worldwide, men die twice as often from suicide.
- In late adulthood The rates worldwide rise, with the highest rate among over 70 year olds.
- People with obsessive disorders have a higher risk of depression, which increases your suicide risk (de la cruz et al., 2017).
- Thoughts of suicide can also increase if people feel driven to do an unattainable one in their opinion standard To be reached: like z..B, thin, heterosexual or rich. (Chatard & Selimbegović, 2011; Smith, M. et al., 2018).
- The suicide rates are under Rich, non -religious and unmarried much higher (Norko et al., 2017; Okada & Samreth, 2013; Vanderweele et al., 2016, 2017).
- Young people in conformity of transgender and gender, which are exposed to a non -supporting environment, also have an increased risk of taking a suicide attempt.
- Also the social suggestion Can trigger suicide thoughts and behavior. An analysis of the data from 17 million Twitter users showed that sharing of suicide thoughts had a wave effect and spread suicidal thoughts about their own social network (Cero & Witte, 2019).
- Negative emotions tend to during the week to rise. The suicide rates are in April and May The highest and not (as generally assumed) during the winter holidays.
NSSI, as a risk factor for future suicide attempts
Some people - mainly young people and women - can participate in non -suicidal self -injuries (NSSI). For example, you can cut or burn yourself into the skin, beat yourself or insert objects under your nails. Those who are involved in NSSI have experienced bullying, harassment or stress. They are both self -critical and impulsive. Some find relief from intensive negative thoughts by distraction of pain, others attract attention and get help, some can relieve feelings of guilt by punishing themselves.
Those who participate in NSSI are usually not suicide attendants (Evans & Simms, 2019; Nock & Kessler, 2006). Nevertheless, NSSI is a risk factor for future attempts at suicide.
The global suicide rate
The facts speak for themselves: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global suicide rate in 2019 was 9.0 per 100,000 inhabitants. At 16.1 per 100,000, the United States had the highest suicide rate among the G7 countries, while Italy had the lowest at 6.7 per 100,000. Germany was with a suicide rate of 12.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. Among the BRICS countries, the suicide rate between 6.9 in Brazil and 25.1 in the Russian Federation was.
In Switzerland, euthanasia and assisted suicide are legal
In 2014, a total of 752 assisted suicides were carried out (330 men, 422 women), compared to 1,029 non -assisted suicides (754 men, 275 women). Most assisted suicides concerned older people who suffered from a fatal illness. Critics speak of "suicide tourism" because Swiss death organizations are widely used by foreigners. In 2008, German citizens were 60% of the total number of suicides assisted by the organization Dignitas.
Effects of suicide and suicide attempts
Suicide and suicide attempts have serious emotional, physical and economic effects. People who attempts to make suicide and survival can suffer serious injuries that can have long -term effects on their health. You can also experience depression and other psychological problems.
Suicide and attempts at suicide affect the health and well -being of friends, relatives, work colleagues and the community. When people die from suicide, their surviving family members and friends can experience long grief, shock, anger, feelings of guilt, symptoms of depression or anxide and even thoughts of suicide themselves.
The financial tribute that suicide has on society is also expensive. In 2020, suicide and non-fatal self-injuries cost the nation to more than $ 500 billion in medical costs, loss of work, value of statistical life and costs for the quality of life.
Prevention measures against suicide
However, there are various ways to prevent suicides. An important measure is to promote mental health and the early detection and treatment of mental illnesses. In addition, the reduction of stigmatization, the expansion of support networks and the promotion of life skills can help reduce the risk of suicide.
Acute suicide crises: take advantage of professional help
In acute suicide crises, it can be helpful to take advantage of professional help. This includes telephone advice centers, crisis services and psychiatric clinics. It is also important that people in the vicinity of people with suicidal thoughts pay attention to warning signals and take them seriously to seek support in good time.
Suicide prevention: a task for society as a whole
It is important to emphasize that suicide prevention is a task overall and that everyone can help prevent suicides. Open discussions on the topic, the share of personal experiences and the distribution of information and help offers can help increase awareness of suicide prevention and to support people in crises.
