Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 10 Suicide

Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 10 Suicide The purposeful taking of one’s own life

Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 10 Types of Suicides Death seekers Clearly and explicitly seek to end their life Death initiators Believe they are hastening an inevitable death Death ignorers Intend to end their life, but do not necessarily mean the end of their existence Death darers Ambivalent about dying and take actions that greatly increase their chances of death

Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 10 Gender Differences in Completed Suicides

Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 10 Suicide Rates Women are three times more likely than men to attempt suicide. European Americans have the highest rate of suicide in the US. The suicide rate in children is low, but child suicides occur. Rates of suicide increases substantially in early adolescence. Nine percent of college students surveyed said they had thought about committing suicide. There has been a 50 percent decline in suicide rates among older adults over the past few decades, but older adults, especially older men, are still at relatively higher risk for suicide.

Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 10 Warning Signs for Suicide in Adolescents Fatigue Decline in school performance Social withdrawal Loss of appetite Giving away possession s Writing goodbye letters to friends Sleep loss, changes in sleep patterns

Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 10 Perspectives on Suicide Economic hardship - People who are chronically impoverished or who have recently lost a job are at increased risk. Serious illness - People with serious illnesses are at increased risk. Loss and abuse - People who have experience a loss or abuse in the distant or recent past are at increased risk.

Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 10 Perspectives on Suicide, continued Durkheim’s theory - Egoistic suicide is committed by people who feel alienated from others. Anomic suicide is committed by those who experience severe disorientation from society. Altruistic suicide is committed by people who believe that taking their own life will benefit society in some way. Suicide contagion - When one member of a group commits suicide, other members are at increased risk for suicide, perhaps because of “contagion” effects, modeling, increased acceptability, or the impact of the traumatic event on already vulnerable people.

Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 10 Psychological Theories of Suicide Psychodynamic theory Suicide is the extreme expression of anger at the love object who has abandoned the person Mental disorder Several mental disorders increase risk for suicide, including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders Impulsivity People who commit suicide have a general tendency toward impulsive acts. Cognitive theories Hopelessness and dichotomous thinking increase risk for suicide

Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 10 Biological Theories of Suicide Genetic theory Disordered genes increase risk for suicide Neurotransmitter theory Deficiencies in serotonin lead to impulsive, violent and suicidal behavior

Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 10 Treatment and Prevention Community-based prevention – Crisis intervention programs, suicide hotlines Drug treatments – Lithium, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors Psychological treatments – Dialectical behavior therapy, psychotherapy

Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 10 Social Approaches and Prevention Guns and suicide – Several studies have found that suicide rates decrease when cities or state enact strict antigun legislation that limits people’s access to guns. Gender and assisted suicide – Most mercy killings involve older married couples, with the husband killing his ill wife.