Suicide is a major problem in the United States. Chances are good that you may even know someone who has either committed or attempted suicide. According to the National Institute of Health, suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death in the United States in 2006, with more than 33,000 people taking their own lives. Experts also suggest that for every death, another twenty-five people try to commit suicide, and it may surprise you to learn that suicide actually outranks homicide as a cause of death. These statistics are even more frightening among teens and young adults; among those age fifteen to twenty-four, suicide is the third leading cause of death.
Risk Factors Associated with Suicide
While the exact reasons why a person chooses to commit suicide vary from one person to the next, researchers have discovered a number of different psychological and environmental risk factors. Recent problems in close relationships, feelings of social isolation, irrational thinking, substance abuse, a family history of suicide, the presence of a firearm in the home and major psychological disorders are all factors associated with an increased risk of suicidal behavior.
People with poor problem-solving skills are also at a greater risk of committing suicide. When faced with a major life problem, rather than looking at the available options and looking for a realistic solution, these individuals may see suicide as the only way to resolve the crisis. For example, a student who fails all of his classes during his first year of college might become so depressed or fear the negative reaction of his parents so much that it seems like death in the only possible option.
How Can People Help Prevent Suicide?
While it is impossible to completely control the behavior of others, there are steps that you can take if you suspect that a friend or loved one is contemplating suicide. First, don't brush off or dismiss the person's suicidal talk by minimizing the situation or trying to paint a rosy picture that “everything is going to be all right.” Instead, focus on actively listening to the person's feelings without expressing judgment. Be emotionally supportive, and encourage the person to seek help from a trained mental health professional.
Psychotherapy and Other Approaches to Treatment
People seek the assistance of mental health professionals for a wide
variety of reasons. Many people may seek treatment because they are
suffering from some type of psychological disorder that seriously
impairs their normal functioning or creates a significant amount of
discomfort. However, not everyone who goes to a therapist has a mental
disorder. Many people need help with various life issues, such as
managing stress, dealing with relationship problems, or coping with a
sudden life change. Now that you are familiar with some of the major
mental disorders, let's take a look at some of the approaches used to
treat these disorders. Keep in mind that treatments are constantly
evolving as new ones enter the scene and older ones are improved upon.
This chapter will take a look at both psychotherapy and biological
approaches to treatment.
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