Notes on Suicide and Mental Health

Global Statistics on Suicide

• Over 800,000 suicides occur globally each year.
• Suicide results in more deaths than homicide and natural disasters combined.

Depression and Suicide

• Individuals with moderate to severe depression often contemplate suicide.
• The speaker has never met someone with moderate to severe depression who hasn’t thought about suicide.

The Final Straw

• The moment that tips someone towards suicide varies by individual.
• Factors influencing the decision include:
  • Substance use (alcohol/drugs) can reduce self-restraint against suicide.
  • Reinforcement of failure or negative experiences can make suicide seem like an option.

Ambivalence in Suicide Decisions

• Ambivalence exists in the decision-making process regarding suicide.
• Example: Survivors of the Golden Gate Bridge jumps often expressed a change of heart during the fall.

Mental Illness and Suicide

• 90-95% of individuals who die by suicide have a diagnosable mental illness.
• Mental illness is the most common factor associated with completed suicide.

Prevention Strategies

• Improved identification and treatment of mental illness can significantly impact suicide prevention.

Conclusion

• The challenge in understanding suicide reasons is that the individual can’t communicate their thoughts and feelings in the moment.