People who kill themselves see this as the only remaining
solution to their problems. People differ in their ability to handle the
troubles that cause such desperate feelings. Many find it difficult to recognize
and solve personal problems in a calm and ordered way. Researchers believe this
inability to cope may be connected to biological and chemical imbalances.
Some suicides are the result of impulsive decisions based on a situation that
seems hopeless - loss of a job, divorce, or a breakup with one's girlfriend or
boyfriend. These “reasons” for suicide are not the actual “causes” of the
suicide. Rather, they are “triggers” for suicide in a person suffering from a
mental illness. Suicide attempts triggered by major disappointments, such as
romantic rejection, problems with peers, or failing a big exam, are common among
depressed teenagers, who haven't had the life experience to realize that these
“injuries” heal with time.
Ninety percent of the people who commit suicide have a mental or substance abuse
disorder (or both). More than half of the people who kill themselves are
seriously or clinically depressed. Although most depressed people are not
suicidal, most suicidal people are depressed. Serious depression is considered a
medical illness by the World Health Organization. Serious or major depression is
a long-lasting sadness that doesn't let up for two weeks or more. In children,
depression is often indicated by irritability.
Some of the signs of depression are:
• Sadness and crying.
• Feeling tired all the time or complaining of having no energy.
• Changes in appetite or sleep.
• Loss of interest in doing things.
• Trouble thinking or concentrating.
• Spending more time alone.
• Feeling hopeless or worthless.
• Having suicidal thoughts.
Twenty to twenty-five percent of people who kill themselves are intoxicated. Of
course, most people who drink do not kill themselves. Alcohol by itself is not a
cause of suicide. However, alcohol lowers self-control and increases impulsive
behavior. Someone with a mental disorder who drinks is at increased risk of
suicide.
Other people are depressed due to circumstances such as chronic illness or pain.
The elderly are prone to this type of depression and can be a suicide risk. They
can be helped by medication, pain management, counseling and family support.
TYPES OF SUICIDAL ACTS
DROWNING …..
How it’s Done: Maybe a relationship tremor has caused you to rethink your life
here on the planet, and the weight of it all has made you decide to drown
yourself. Sometimes, driving or even convincing yourself to walk into a large
body or water will do it, otherwise many perish in as little water as a
slightly-filled bathtub.
Results From Failure: Oxygen deprivation can cause severe and permanent brain
damage.
ELECTRIC SHOCK………….
How it’s Done: Sometimes the thought of continuing to live in a world inundated
with problems and insurmountable issues results on one wanting to die by
electric shock. Something as simple as jamming a utensil in a wall outlet, to
the more notable dunking an appliance in an occupied bathtub, can result in
death by electric shock.
Results From Failure: Deep burns from 500-1000 volts, ventricular fibrillation
at 110-220 volts, and severe neurological damage.
Exsanguinations :
How it’s Done: Frequently the most obvious way to rapidly harm one’s self yet
pass on relatively slowly, is to slit the wrists or the carotid, radial, ulnar,
or femoral artery. Using a sharp implement is the easiest way to go. Razors or
knives are popular. Contrary to popular belief, the effective method for this is
not to cross the wrist, but to draw the blade up the forearm (as is evident in
the photograph above). This is the same way Japanese perform Jigai (women) and
Seppuku (men), although their’s is often for more spiritual purposes.
Results From Failure: Extreme loss of blood causing the heart to dramatically
slow eventually depriving the brain of oxygen. Also, most often, deep scars and
tissue damage.
JUMPING…….
How it’s Done: Pondering the emptiness in one’s life can be a painful
experience. Yet, when it all seems so overwhelming, you might decide to plummet
from a significant height to your own death. Leaping from a building to the
pavement below is quite lethal, and popular. However, romantics may choose to
use a cliff over jagged rocks. Or bridges.
Results From Failure: Shattered femurs from impacting with water up to severe
bodily harm from impacting with any solid surface.
SUFFOCATION………..
How it’s Done: You’ve decided that your life is in disarray and you can no
longer stand the pressure. One way to end it all is to encase your head in a
plastic bag and asphyxiate yourself. Or, if you’re really ready to go, nitrogen
or helium directly inhaled is useful.
Results From Failure: Turning back at the last minute before passing out can
result in serious and long-lasting to permanent brain damage.
CARBON MONOXIDE INHALATION…….
How it’s Done: It’s all so difficult and the full weight of the world is
seemingly square upon your shoulders. You’ve decided to go to the great beyond
and you are going to lock yourself in a car, in a closed garage with the engine
running and go to sleep. Or, if you have any appliance that puts of CO, that’ll
do.
Results From Failure: CO molecules irreversibly attach themselves to human
hemoglobin and the result is often fatal even if one backs out.
POISONING……………
How it’s Done: Romeo and Juliet had it down when, once seeing the other
presumably dead, the other fatally poisons himself. Taking a substance
internally not meant to be done so can be considered poisoning: cleaners,
industrial fluids, diazepam, cyanide, and the like.
Results From Failure: The toxic levels of poison required to kill one’s self are
generally non-reversible. However, hospital staff can attempt it and often make
one vomit or something similar. Lasting effects can include internal organ
damage.
HANGING…………
How it’s Done: It’s all over. Nothing in life seems to make it worth living any
more. You can acquire a length of rope and construct yourself a noose, which is,
by the way, considered a deadly weapon if tied correctly. Once built, wrap one
end securely around something high: a rafter or a ceiling fan, and leap, head
fastened within the loop, from a chair. Or, if you’re short of rope, anything
strong enough to support your weight from your neck can be employed.
Results From Failure: Brain damage from lack of oxygen, Often, failure to
actually break your own neck may only yield strangulation and you can be saved,
but damaged. Also, permanent rope burns or implement scarring can occur.
DRUG / ALCOHOL OVERDOSE…………
How it’s Done: The pressure and stress of daily routines has beaten you down for
the final time. Within your medicine cabinet lies the answer to your
extermination: prescription and over-the-counter meds. A huge mouthful can do
you right in. Or, to speed along the process, couple your target pills with a
few swigs of alcohol. Many of our favorite musicians have chosen this route.
Even alcohol alone, in extreme excess can kill you.
Results From Failure: Severe to permanent organ failure if successful removal
isn’t achieved, as well as impaired judgment. Often, clinical assistance is
necessary if attempt is repeated.
GUN SHOT……………
How it’s Done: One of the most often achieved forms of suicide is by gun shot.
Generally a head shot is desired since its results are 99 percent effective,
however a chest shot can be equally as devastating.
Results From Failure: Sometimes the blast isn’t enough to kill. In this case,
severe to permanent bodily damage can occur as well as blood loss, organ and
tissue damage, and brain damage.
NOTE:…………..Suicide is never a solution. There is no problem so great that it can
not be resolved with time and care. This list is meant not as an instruction
guide, but a description of the most common forms of suicide.Please remember, no
matter how bad things get, someone, somewhere is able to listen to you and help
you through.