Suicide:

The Silent
Epidemic
Edward Pertuz
Blackstone Academy Charter School
Stacy Joslin

If society is better educated on the topic of suicide then possible victims can receive the
proper care they need to persevere. In order to understand suicide individuals must learn about
what causes suicide, it's misconceptions and how to prevent it. According to Leins, writer for
U.S News, the American suicide rate has risen 2.4% the highest it has been in 25 years. If the
lives of so many Americans are in jeopardy then something must be done to improve upon this

issue. Suicide awareness is the key to suicide prevention. If an effort is made to comprehend the
reasons behind most cases of suicide then the proper treatment can be assigned to prevent
further deaths and ultimately help to end this suicide epidemic. Suicide is a disastrous issue in
America today. Contrary to what most people may believe, it is preventable. In order to prevent
suicide, society must understand who commits suicide, why, and the many mental disorders
affecting its victims. The general public needs to have a deeper understanding of what causes
depression and why the victims of depression commit suicide. If more people received the
support that they needed, fewer people would commit suicide.

Suicide Backdrop
A foundation of knowledge about suicide needs to be established before the topic can be
understood. According to Merriam-Webster.com, suicide is the act of killing oneself because
you do not want to continue living. Strikingly The World Organization mentions that suicide
rates have actually increased over 60% in the last 50 years. These statistics suggest that this
increase in the rate of suicide can be due to the progression of mental disorders or possibly
because people are more stressed. Suicide is not biased nor racist: it does not take someones
race, ethnicity, skin color, gender nor familys income into account. Anyone can be susceptible
to suicide.
Suicide was first studied by French socialist Emile Durkheim in 1897. He originally
studied suicide rates of different groups of people, for example, Protestants vs. Catholics and
men vs. women. He concluded from his research that someone under more social control is less
likely to commit suicide.

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Ashley Crossman, a renowned sociologist, argues that the causes of suicide are found in
social factors and not individual personalities. She suggests that there are 3 types of suicide:
anomic suicide, altruistic suicide and egoistic suicide.
One type of suicide comes forth from a sense of alienation and is referred to as anomic
suicide. Anomic suicide occurs When the disintegrating forces in society make individuals feel
lost or alone,(Crossman). Teenage suicide is usually cited as an example of this type of suicide.
Cases of anomic suicide typically affect those that have never felt that they have been securely
part of a peer group. For instance members of the L.G.B.T.Q community who have never really
felt accepted by society fit into this category. The rates of suicide attempts among LGBT youth
have been found to be higher than rates among youth in the general population, (Mustanski).
Many of these people tend to feel lost or alone because they perceive themselves as dealing with
a situation in which no one else can help them.
In addition to societal factors, suicide may come as a result of social and religious
reasons. Altruistic suicide happens when there is excessive regulation of individuals by social
forces, (Crossman). So if people live in a society where they feel oppressed or without choices
you may see more altruistic suicides. An example is someone who commits suicide for the sake
of a religious or political cause, such as the Tibetan Monks who who set themselves on fire for
political protest.
Finally, ones personal environment can have a negative effect on their emotional well
being. Egoistic suicide happens when people feel totally detached from society, (Crossman).
People are commonly a part of society by work roles, ties to family and community, and other
social bonds. Crossman also states that sudden loss of a loved one, changes in relationships like

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divorce, and other radical life changes could increase the chance of egoistic suicide. For
example, after Hurricane Katrina, many people lost their homes their jobs or even their
neighborhood. According to Cooper the suicide rate in New Orleans nearly tripled because
people had such a difficult time adjusting to their new reality. Knowing the distinctions behind
all three types of suicide is essential to an understanding of why people commit suicide.

The Epidemiology of Suicide

People commit suicide for many different reasons. Before suicide can be fully
understood, the public must have proper context to understand suicide along with which groups
of people are more likely to commit suicide and what led to their actions.
Suicide is impartial. It is not specific to an exact age; people who commit suicide range
from adolescents to the elderly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
suicide was the tenth leading cause of death for all ages in 2010 in the United States. In fact
Community Counseling Services Incorporated states that it is the 3rd leading cause of death for
adolescents while the elderly have the highest rate of suicide with 22 per 100,000 committing
suicide in 1986, a ratio that has increased in 2010 to 36 per 100,000 reported by the to Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also says
sadly, suicide rates for adults aged 36-64 have significantly risen 28.4% from 1999 to 2010,
making the suicide rate 17.6 per 100,000. These numbers exhibit that although some age groups
may be more prone to committing suicide, all age groups are vulnerable to it.
Shockingly, suicide can run within families. As reported by Landua Consequently,
people with a family history of suicide are more likely to attempt suicide If suicide runs in the

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family, the factors that affect the individual are not all in their control. Once a family member
attempts suicide, it sets an example to the other members of the family that suicide is an
adequate way of dealing with one's problems. Someone will not literally think this, but a general
message can register in their minds.
Suicide is not always someones rational decision. In fact, The Community Counseling
Services Incorporated reports out of all the suicides committed in the United States 60% of
them are committed by individuals suffering from mood disorders while 30% are committed by
people with psychiatric disorders. These mood and mental disorders include, but are not limited
to, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder. In total that
means that about 90% of the people committing suicide suffer from some type of mental illness.
When someone is affected by a mental illness they do not have the capacity to think properly
this why such a high percentage of people that commit suicide are affected by a mental illness.
What is going on in a humans brain before making the decision of taking one's own
life? Biology is often one of the causes of suicide. That means the majority of people
committing suicide have some type of unfavorable biological function. The staff at the Mayo
Clinic report it is usually due to some chemical imbalance in one's brain specifically serotonin.
This lack of serotonin can be an important biological determination of depression, something
that has become increasingly prevalent. In fact by 2020 depression will be the second most
prevalent medical condition in the world, (Luhrmann). Depression is on the rise and as a result
so will suicide.
Suicide is not always someone's levelheaded decision. Another significant contributing
factor to commit suicide usually lies in their brain and thinking. According to the National

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Alliance on Mental Illness a form of treatment that focuses on a patient's thinking is called
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or C.B.T which is a form of therapy that analyzes the
relationships between thoughts feelings and behaviors. Cognitive-behavioral theories suggest
that people become suicidal because they have learned to think and behave in characteristic and
unhelpful ways that make suicide seem like an appropriate choice and/or coping strategy,(The
Mayo Clinic Staff). Once a person falls into a negative mindset for too long suicide can be
perceived by the victim as a solution.
There are four cognitive distortions that can lead to suicide. One is dichotomous
thinking. This is when a person is portraying oneself and the world in black and white ;e.g.,
thinking my life is completely horrible, rather than I, like everyone else, have good and not so
good aspects of my life/situation/self, (Community Counseling Incorporated). The second
distortion is overgeneralization, meaning if a bad outcome occurs one day, that suggests the
whole day, week, month and year will be bad. The third distortion is minimization which is the
opposite of generalization and is essentially overlooking any good event that happens. The
fourth and last misconception is selective attention which is Focusing only on negative
information or information that confirms other negative or unhelpful thoughts; e.g., thinking I
can't do anything right and then reviewing your week for only those things that you messed up
on rather than also considering the things you did well, (Community Counseling Services
Incorporated). These four cognitive misconceptions are not the definite reasons why people
commit suicide, but they are the most common ways suicidal people think before committing
suicide. In conclusion, there is often something wrong with someone's mindset before
committing suicide.

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Suicidal does not Mean Depressed

In order to attempt to understand depression one must know how it affects the body and
the mind. According to the online medical journal Mayo Clinic Depression is a mood disorder
that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depression,
major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and
can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems, (The Mayo Clinic Staff). When
someone is suffering from depression, these sort of effects can take quite a toll on someones
everyday life. Besides physical effects, depression can also affect the way that one interacts with
other people. The Mayo Clinic also states that these side effects include Excess weight gain or
obesity which can lead to heart disease and diabetes, alcohol or substance abuse, anxiety, panic
disorder or social phobia, family conflicts, relationship difficulties, work or school problems,
social isolation, suicidal feelings, suicide attempts or suicide, self-mutilation, such as cutting
and premature death from other medical conditions. Depression ultimately not only affects the
individual, but the world around that individual as well.

Although depression is one of the most commonly associated factors that lead to suicide,
not all cases of suicide are a direct cause of one's symptoms of depression. According to
Community Counseling Services Incorporated, for those who commit suicide, depression seems
to be the most common mental illness they all share. Depression affects the way someone views
their life and this distorted view of life can cause someone to become suicidal, but depression
happens to be the most common. Depression is one of the biggest factors causing suicide and is
more like a trigger, because if left untreated it can lead someone to become suicidal. Depression

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is caused by a chemical imbalance in the human brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that

influences one's mood, sexual desire and function, appetite, sleep, memory and learning,
temperature regulation, and some social behavior. It is widely accepted that there is not enough
serotonin in the brain for normal brain function to occur. According to WebMD, an online
medical journal, irregularities in the levels of serotonin directly contribute to the symptoms of
depression. Irregular serotonin levels in the brain can wreak havoc on an individual's emotional
functionality. Although depression can lead to suicide, it is important to know that not everyone
who is depressed is suicidal. An generalization cannot be made about people and it is important
to get a better understanding of each individual.

Help Save a Life

Unfortunately, according to the Mayo Clinic, there is no sure way to prevent depression.
With that being said it is clear that just being informed about suicide and depression isnt
enough to prevent suicide. Those who are suicidal must take action and get help. There are two
proven psychotherapies for treating those who attempt suicide: cognitive behavior therapy for
suicide attempters (CBT for suicide attempters) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) for
patients with borderline personality disorder and recurrent suicidal ideation and behaviors,
(American Foundation for Suicide Prevention). The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports
DBT or dialectical behavioral therapy is identical to CBT except it stresses the value of
validation and the acceptance of difficult thoughts feelings or behaviors. These preventatives

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include identifying warning signs, hotlines, support groups, treatment in a mental hospital and
medication. The two preventatives that will be focused on will be identifying warning signs and
medication.

Suicide rarely occurs in an instant. There are usually warning signs that the people close
to the victim must take note of. In fact, according to the Jason Foundation out of every five teen
suicide attempts 4 of them give clear warning signs. The areas to focus on while looking for
warning signs is a person's speech, behavior and mood. The American Foundation for Suicide
Prevention says take note if a person talks about: ending their life, having no reason to live,
being a strain to others, feeling caged and under anguishing suffering. Changes in behavior may
be another warning sign of someone who is considering suicide, especially if its related to a
painful event, loss, or change. Look out for increased use of alcohol or drugs. People who are
considering suicide often display one or more of the following moods: depression, loss of
interest, rage, irritability, humiliation and anxiety, (The American Foundation for Suicide
Prevention). These signs usually serve as an indication that someone is experiencing the effects
of depression. Depression brings forth a plethora of social issues such as being withdrawn from
people, showing aggression towards others, and ending ties with other relationships. If someone
close to the victim notices these signs, they should talk to that person and if the problem
escalates take them to a professional that can help.

Suicide: Not Always Bad?

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Can suicide sometimes be justified? Suicide is not universally viewed as an

unacceptable solution. Some believe that assisted suicide is justifiable for terminally ill patients.
Assisted suicide is when someone gets help from a trained physician to end their life because
they are suffering from some sort of terminal illness. The justification of suicide brings a basic
human right into the argument, freedom of choice. Only three states in the US allow assisted
suicide. These states are Oregon, Vermont and Washington. In Oregon, Vermont, and
Washington the physician must be a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathy

(D.O.) licensed to practice medicine by the Board of Medical Examiners for the State of
Oregon. The physician must also be willing to participate in the Act(Cable News Network).
Individuals who are suffering as a result of their illness are just trying to avoid further suffering
and are not thinking irrationally. Arguably, it would be less cruel to allow patients who are
suffering to continue to live a life of unbearable pain. In conclusion to most suicide may be
viewed as an unacceptable solution but in instances where the individual is terminally ill it can
be justified.

Why I Care

My sister was my best friend. She was my mom when my mom wasn't there. She was
one of the two people that I loved most in this world. She was the woman who bought me my
first pair of Nikes at the age of one. Sadly, it was no surprise that I was crushed when I lost my
big sister to depression. What most people misunderstand is how depression and suicide affect
the loved ones left behind. My big sister killed herself when I was in the 8th grade. She left

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behind a 3 year old son that my mom and I take care of; he is the only remembrance we have
left of her. She is the one true reason why I am so passionate about understanding depression
and suicide. It is not like a visible illness that has some type of warning. It is sudden and can
happen to anyone. No one should have to suffer the misery of losing someone to suicide.

Ending The Epidemic

Suicide is an ongoing epidemic that silently terrorizes the worlds youth, adults and
elderly. This increase of suicidal acts can be due to factors like, lack of knowledge and the
social stigma society has on suicide. The reason why someone attempts suicide is very
individual per victim so there is no universal solution. It is a public health crisis that can
victimize anyone. Mental illnesses may influence a victim's decision on committing suicide but
is not the sole reason why it happens. The key is to remember that there is always a way out.
Prevention starts with making a treatment plan. Mayo Clinic, suggests that those affected by
depression must set goals such as controlling stress levels, increasing emotional resilience, and
boosting self-esteem. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention says this can be done by
things like yoga, CBT Therapy, DBT Therapy and continue taking medication if needed. This
help can even come from friends and family. They can be used as motivation and can help you
stay on track on living a healthy life.
Suicide awareness is the key to suicide prevention. If an effort is made to comprehend
the reasons behind most cases of suicide then the proper treatment can be assigned to prevent
further deaths and ultimately help to end this suicide epidemic.

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Work Cited
Crossman, Ashley. "The Study of Suicide An Overview of the Famous Work By Emile Durkheim."
About.com. About.com, 2009. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.

Leins, Casey. "U.S. Suicides Hit Highest Rate in 25 Years." US News. U.S.News & World
Report, n.d. Web. 02 Sept. 2015.
Luhrmann, T. M. "Is the World More Depressed?" The New York Times. The New York Times
Company, 24 Mar. 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.

Reiss, Natalie S., Ph.D, and Dombeck, Mark, Ph.D. "Other Factors Contributing To Suicide
Risk - Suicide." Hsccs.org. Community Counseling Service, INC., 1995. Web. 10 Apr.
2015.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Suicide Prevention." Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 06 Oct. 2015. Web. 26 Oct.
2015.
Staff, Mayo C. "Depression (major Depressive Disorder)." Depression (major Depression)
Definition. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Jan.-Feb. 2014. Web.
10 Apr. 2015.
Mustanski, Brian Ph.D. "Preventing Suicide." American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 2015. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.
Cable News Network. "Physician-Assisted Suicide Fast Facts - CNN.com."CNN. Cable News
Network, 6 Oct. 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.

Sant, Shannon V. "Tibet Self-immolations: Why People Set Themselves on Fire to Protest
China." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 10 Dec. 2012. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.
Bouchez, Colette. "Serotonin and Depression: 9 Questions and Answers."WebMD. WebMD, n.d.
Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

The Jason Foundation. "Youth Suicide Statistics - Parent Resource Program." Parent Resource
Program. The Jason Foundation, n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.
NAMI. "Psychotherapy." NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. National Alliance On
Mental Illness, 2015. Web. 10 June 2015.

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Cooper, Anderson. "New Orleans' Suicide Rate Nearly Triples." CNN. Cable News Network,
May-June 2006. Web. 10 June 2015.
Orszag, Peter R. "Why Do More Men Commit Suicide?"BloombergView.com. Bloomberg View,
20 Aug. 2014. Web. 10 June 2015.
Landau, Elizabeth. "Suicidal Behavior May Run in Families." CNN. Cable News Network, Mar.Apr. 2009. Web. 17 June 2015.

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