Signs and Symptoms of Suicide
There are very few direct signs or symptoms of suicide to the extent that you can look at someone and say, "He or she is about to commit suicide.
" So many signs are similar to other mental conditions.
For instance, if a member of the family starts to drink more heavily than usual, it could simply mean that they're having a bit of a rough time at work.
Perhaps a husband tends to snap at his wife when it's quite uncalled for and becomes angry at small things.
Then again, someone might sit around without seeming to have any purpose in life, and withdraws from the family.
None of these actions in themselves, or indeed together, necessarily mean that the person has even contemplated suicide.
I would suggest that there are three warning signs that should be taken very seriously.
Firstly, Ideation.
This is talking about suicide, the individual making it known that they wish to commit suicide.
Either that, or they wish that death would over take them.
Now, while this may be simply a ploy for sympathy, the nature of the person must be taken into consideration.
A man or woman who's usually strong and in control, should they start exhibiting thoughts of death, then the matter is almost certainly extremely serious.
The reasons for their thinking must be ascertained.
Perhaps something's happened that they've kept to themselves for a long time and it's been eating away at them.
If it happens to a strong person like that, then something very disagreeable must be assaulting their minds.
Secondly, the person who starts to set their affairs in order, particularly if they aren't terribly well organized as a general rule.
Thirdly, and perhaps the most telling symptom of them all is if a person who's obviously been experiencing difficulties; who's shown signs of untoward anger, perhaps mood changes and withdrawal, suddenly becomes calm, maybe even serene.
This could mean very well that their minds are made up, that they're determined to carry out the deed.
They've made peace with their god, if they believe in one, and more especially with themselves.
This is a point of high danger.
The statistics for suicide are quite alarming.
Nearly one million people kill themselves per year worldwide, and around 30,000 in the United States alone.
The figure is probably higher, because it can be very difficult sometimes to decide what's suicide and what's accidental, say, in a car crash.
There are the accidental overdoses of prescription drugs, guns going off which are not supposed to be loaded and many other causes.
Over 90% of people who commit suicide suffer from depression, or some other form of mental disorder.
I'm not entering into any sort of a debate here, but another high risk is in keeping firearms in the home.
Someone suddenly finds themselves in the grip of depression for whatever reason.
Perhaps a fight with a spouse or girl or boyfriend.
"I'll show 'em," and before they think it through rationally, they've grabbed a gun and pulled the trigger.
The other action that tip-toes around the edges of suicide is Euthanasia.
The Netherlands is the only country where it's permitted, but not actually legal, since it's not specifically allowed by statute.
The debate over this will rage for years to come, because there is no right nor wrong.
Ethically, for a doctor to take the life of another breaks his Hippocratic Oath, but if that person's in unbelievable pain, then is the doctor not being merciful? Perhaps we should discuss this thorny subject at another time
" So many signs are similar to other mental conditions.
For instance, if a member of the family starts to drink more heavily than usual, it could simply mean that they're having a bit of a rough time at work.
Perhaps a husband tends to snap at his wife when it's quite uncalled for and becomes angry at small things.
Then again, someone might sit around without seeming to have any purpose in life, and withdraws from the family.
None of these actions in themselves, or indeed together, necessarily mean that the person has even contemplated suicide.
I would suggest that there are three warning signs that should be taken very seriously.
Firstly, Ideation.
This is talking about suicide, the individual making it known that they wish to commit suicide.
Either that, or they wish that death would over take them.
Now, while this may be simply a ploy for sympathy, the nature of the person must be taken into consideration.
A man or woman who's usually strong and in control, should they start exhibiting thoughts of death, then the matter is almost certainly extremely serious.
The reasons for their thinking must be ascertained.
Perhaps something's happened that they've kept to themselves for a long time and it's been eating away at them.
If it happens to a strong person like that, then something very disagreeable must be assaulting their minds.
Secondly, the person who starts to set their affairs in order, particularly if they aren't terribly well organized as a general rule.
Thirdly, and perhaps the most telling symptom of them all is if a person who's obviously been experiencing difficulties; who's shown signs of untoward anger, perhaps mood changes and withdrawal, suddenly becomes calm, maybe even serene.
This could mean very well that their minds are made up, that they're determined to carry out the deed.
They've made peace with their god, if they believe in one, and more especially with themselves.
This is a point of high danger.
The statistics for suicide are quite alarming.
Nearly one million people kill themselves per year worldwide, and around 30,000 in the United States alone.
The figure is probably higher, because it can be very difficult sometimes to decide what's suicide and what's accidental, say, in a car crash.
There are the accidental overdoses of prescription drugs, guns going off which are not supposed to be loaded and many other causes.
Over 90% of people who commit suicide suffer from depression, or some other form of mental disorder.
I'm not entering into any sort of a debate here, but another high risk is in keeping firearms in the home.
Someone suddenly finds themselves in the grip of depression for whatever reason.
Perhaps a fight with a spouse or girl or boyfriend.
"I'll show 'em," and before they think it through rationally, they've grabbed a gun and pulled the trigger.
The other action that tip-toes around the edges of suicide is Euthanasia.
The Netherlands is the only country where it's permitted, but not actually legal, since it's not specifically allowed by statute.
The debate over this will rage for years to come, because there is no right nor wrong.
Ethically, for a doctor to take the life of another breaks his Hippocratic Oath, but if that person's in unbelievable pain, then is the doctor not being merciful? Perhaps we should discuss this thorny subject at another time
