Eradication Of The Suicide Epidemic Is Within Reach With Understanding...

The culprit is often called "the silent killer" in certain circles. It's not heart disease or even high blood pressure. The culprit is the growing problem of suicide. This week a beautiful 35 year old female legal secretary took her life by putting a gun to her head. After she shot herself, she was in so much pain that she called 911 before she bled to death. Not a pleasant image. Yet suicide has become a growing epidemic.

In 2007, the number of suicides was twice that of homicides according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States .CDC: Suicide Statistics. While anyone can be a victim of suicide, rates are higher among
men, American Indians, whites and people between the ages of 45 and 54 years. No one knows exactly why suicide is so popular. Theories of causes include mental health, stress concerning jobs, finances, or relationships. The CDC report lists mental health problems as the most common denominator among suicide victims. 74.9 percent of the deceased allegedly had a diagnosis of depression/dysthymia. Bipolar disorder appears to be associated with 14.5% of the victims. 8.1 percent allegedly carried a diagnosis of anxiety disorder.

Suicide is not limited to the cowardly. The U.S. Army announced in August of 2007 that 99 soldiers committed suicide in 2006. That's 17.3 per 100,000. In all, 948 soldiers attempted suicide. There were 67 completed soldier suicides in 2004 (or 10.8 per 100,000 soldiers) and 87 in 2005 (12.8 per 100,000). Suicides were committed with active-duty, reserves and National Guard at an alarming rate. So when we read about MINGORA, Pakistan -- A suicide bomber in Pakistan blowing himself up in a busy market in Pakistan's Swat Valley in May of 2010 should it really cause us to think that problems are limited to foreign countries? Taliban suicide bombers need mental help, but so do all who contemplate suicide.

Unfortunately, the effect of suicide is not just ending the victims life. Children whose parents commit suicide are statistically twice as likely to kill themselves. Teenagers and younger children have a three times greater risk of suicide if their parent committed suicide when they were 18 or younger. May Study Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. A parent committing suicide after the child was 18 or older did not apparently increase the child's risk for suicide. The most common predictor of suicide might be past experience. About 20 percent of the suicide victims had a history of previous attempts. 28 percent expressed an intent to commit suicide prior to taking their lives. Only a third of the victims left a suicide note trying to explain their actions.

Recognition of troubled souls and troubled minds is a first step. Listen and take serious any talk of ending one's life. Depression warrants medical attention not ignorance. Sometimes, however; there are no answers. There are simply memories with friends and family left behind to mourn a new emptiness in their lives. May all victims and their loved ones find the peace they so rightfully deserve.