Sunday, 21 February 2016

Suicide risk and marital status in America: Is there a connection?

Suicide risk and marital status in America: Is there a connection?

Despite previous research done on how marriage can reduce the risk of suicide, in recent years, the number of married people committing suicide has increased. Yes, the numbers are still very low compared to widowed, divorced or never married people, but why is it increasing now?

The figure above shows the male’s suicide rates by age group and marital status from 1979 to 1981. Widowed men had the highest rate of killing themselves, followed by divorced, never married, and married. Married men were the least likely to kill themselves, however, as you can see, the numbers are fairly similar to that of the people who were never married. In other words, sadly married status can be connected with suicide. 

The table bellow is the statistics from India, but its clear that in recent years, married people are committing suicide more and more.


Why do they turn to suicide?

There are many reasons for committing suicide in general. However, married people often have problems within their family (disconnection with others by spending most of their time with family members, being a burden to their partner, abuse, etc.), which leads them to the sad result- suicide. Other reasons include conflict within the workplace, childhood trauma, and mental disorders.
For more specific information, view the video below ↓ 

Common methods and initial symptoms

2012
Men: Firearm (78%), Suffocation/ hanging (25%), Poisoning (11%)
Women: Poisoning (36%), Firearm (31%), Suffocation/ hanging (23%)

As men tend to choose lethal methods (firearm), they have a higher success rate (78% of suicides). On the other hand, despite the higher number of attempts, as more women use poisoning (81% ingestion of drugs, 15% inhalation of drugs), the success rates are lower. The drugs can be both legal (painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs) and illegal. Also, 2/3 of the successful poison suicides involve more than 1 type of drug. 
This result shows how one of America's famous gun culture is closely linked to their suicide behaviour.

Suicide prevention

Organizations & Government

They provide emotional support to those who are in a suicide crisis, emotional distress or know someone who is. They also suggest other organizations such as- 

  • Man Therapy: They provide videos of others' experience, advice to overcome rage/anger/depression, and other information regarding suicide prevention.
  • US Air Force Suicide Prevention Program (since 1996): Program that encourages the community to fight against suicide.
  • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: They conduct walks (The overnight, Out of the darkness walk) that raised over US$14 million for suicide prevention, #StopSuicide that reached 17 million people globally on National Suicide Prevention Week, International Summit on Suicide Research, Interactive screening program, and support for those who have lost someone they love from suicide (International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day)

Community

  • Responsible media to raise awareness and provide correct knowledge regarding suicide and prevention
  • Acceptance of those who need special care (mental disorder)
  • Improve community service providers' training (aging service network, funeral homes)

Individual

If someone you know has the following symptoms, behaviours, habits:
  • High drug and/or alcohol dosage (1/3 of those who were success consumed both)
  • Previous suicide attempt
  • Talking about suicidal thoughts (50-70% who attempt do), suicide methods, or revenge
  • Mental or sleeping disorders
  • Family history of suicide, childhood trauma, bully (45% experience bullying before being 18 years old in USA), relationship conflict, unemployment (5% in USA 2016), extreme mood swings 
  • 18-25 year old and over 70 year old men have highest risk
  • American Indian, Alaskan Native and Caucasian men have the highest risk
  • People who live in rural areas
  •  Feeling trapped, unbearable pain, useless,
  • Previously been in jail or prison
You could help them by:
  • Talking to them and understanding their current situation
  • Suggest them to contact a medical/mental health professional
  • Reduce their access to lethal means
  • Not letting them be alone

1 out of every 25 suicide attempts of youth, and 1 out of 4 in the elderly die.We can help reduce the numbers. Because WE CARE.
Remember, if your marriage life is causing you distress, pain and making you feel suicidal, consult with others. It's better to end your marriage life, than your own life.



 
 


References
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (n.d.). Annual reports. Retrieved February 26th, 2016 from https://afsp.org/about-afsp/annual-reports/
Lost all hope. (n.d.b.). US methods of suicide. Retrieved February 20th, 2016 from http://lostallhope.com/suicide-statistics/us-methods-suicide
Lost all hope. (n.d.a.) Drug poisoning in the US. Retrieved February 20th, 2016 from http://lostallhope.com/suicide-statistics/drug-poisoning-us
Luoma, J. B., & Pearson, J. L. (2002). Suicide and marital status in the United States, 1991–1996: is widowhood a risk factor? American Journal of Public Health, 92(9), 1518–1522.
Smith, J. C., Mercy, J. A., & Conn, J. M. (1988). Marital status and the risk of suicide. American Journal of Public Health, 78 (1).
 Kachur, S. P., Potter, L. B., James, S. P., & Powell, K. E. (1995). Suicide in the United States 1980-1992. Violence Surveillance Summary Series, 1. Retrieved February 21st, 2016 from http://pages.ucsd.edu/~dphillip/suicide_in_the_united_states_cdc_report.pdf
Pappas, S. (2015). Suicide: statistics, warning signs and prevention. Retrieved February 21st, 2016 from http://www.livescience.com/44615-suicide-help.html
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control: Division of Violence Prevention. (2015). Facts at a glance. Retrieved February 21st, 2016 from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/suicide-datasheet-a.pdf
United States Surgeon General and of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. (2012). 2012 National strategy for suicide prevention: goals and objectives for action. Retrieved February 21st, 2016 from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/national-strategy-suicide-prevention/full_report-rev.pdf
National Institute of Mental Health. (2015). Suicide prevention. Retrieved February 21st, 2016 from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/index.shtml
Mathews, C. (2015). The unemployment rate is 5%: so why is America so grumpy? Retrieved February 21st, 2016 from http://fortune.com/2015/11/10/us-unemployment-rate-economy/
The Diana Award. (2015) Cyber bullying: bullying. Retrieved February 21st, 2016 from http://www.antibullyingpro.com/blog/2015/4/7/facts-on-bullying
Knox, K. L., Pflanz, S., Talcott, G. W., Campise, R. L., Lavigne, J. E., Bajorska, A., Tu, X., & Caine, E. D. (2010). The US Air Force Suicide Prevention Program: implications for public health policy. American Journal of Public Health, 100(12), 2457–2463. http://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2009.159871

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