Suicide overview

Despite popular notions suggesting that suicides occurring during the second half of life relate
predominately to incurable medical conditions, this is not true.  Most often they reflect the effects of
clinical depression and multiple personal and social factors.  While sharp ethical debate surrounds
the issue of a person's right to choose suicide to end intolerable pain and debilitation associated with
terminal diseases, the vast majority of people who die by their own hands do not have such
conditions.  Rather they typically are suffering the mental anguish associated with treatable
depressive disorders, which often occur in the context of age-related life and functional changes,
social isolation (for example, a man living alone long after the death of his wife), and the stresses
associated with chronic or nagging-but not life threatening-medical conditions. While the factors
contributing to this anguish are multiple and complex, the pain of depression can be as
overwhelming and disabling as that of any serious physical disorder.  Yet it is not as readily apparent
others, in comparison to a cast on the leg or the knowledge that someone is recovering from a "heart
attack."

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 10-24 year olds. The tragedy of a young person
dying by suicide is devastating to their family, their friends and their community. 

Suicides among young people continue to be a serious problem. Suicide is the second leading
cause of death for children, adolescents, and young adults age 5-to-24-year-olds.

The majority of children and adolescents who attempt suicide have a significant mental health
disorder, usually depression.

Among younger children, suicide attempts are often impulsive. They may be associated with feelings
of sadness, confusion, anger, or problems with attention and hyperactivity.

Among teenagers, suicide attempts may be associated with feelings of stress, self-doubt, pressure
to succeed, financial uncertainty, disappointment, and loss. For some teens, suicide may appear to
be a solution to their problems.

Depression and suicidal feelings are treatable mental disorders. The child or adolescent needs to
have his or her illness recognized and diagnosed, and appropriately treated with a comprehensive
treatment plan.

Thoughts about suicide and suicide attempts are often associated with depression. In addition to
depression, other risk factors include:

SACRAMENTO — If suicide is preventable, why are so many people dying from it?
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, and suicide rates just
keep rising.

A few years ago, I treated a patient, a flight attendant, whose brother had brought her in
to the psychiatric crisis unit after noticing her unusual behavior at a wedding. After the
ceremony, she quietly handed out gifts and heartfelt letters to her family members.
When her brother took her home, he noticed many of her furnishings and paintings
were missing. In her bathroom he found three unopened bottles of prescription sleep
medication.