Why people hang themselves

By the time you finish reading this list of notable people who died by suicide, somewhere in the world another person will have done the same, about one every 40 seconds around , a year , making suicide the 10th leading cause of death in the U. Depression is commonly fingered in many suicide cases, yet most people suffering from depression do not kill themselves only about 5 percent Bering says , and not all suicide victims were depressed.

Yet most oppressed gays and fallen academics don't want to kill themselves. Like most human behavior, suicide is a multicausal act. Teasing out the strongest predictive variables is difficult, particularly because such internal cognitive states may not be accessible even to the person experiencing them.

We cannot perceive the neurochemical workings of our brain, so internal processes are typically attributed to external sources. Even those who experience suicidal ideation may not understand why or even if and when ideation might turn into action.

This observation is reinforced by Ralph Lewis, a psychiatrist at the University of Toronto, who works with cancer patients and others facing death, whom I interviewed for my Science Salon podcast about his book Finding Purpose in a Godless World Prometheus Books, I don't know what I was thinking. And yet the situation looks radically different months later, sometimes because of an antidepressant, sometimes because of a change in circumstances, sometimes just a mysterious change of mind.

If you have suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at or phone a family member or friend. And wait it out, knowing that in time you will most likely experience one of these mysterious changes of mind and once again yearn for life. Michael Shermer is publisher of Skeptic magazine www.

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Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. However, it is important to note that although mental health conditions can increase the risk of suicide, they are also very common.

Additionally, according to the U. Social isolation, a lack of support, and untreated or mistreated mental health conditions place people at higher risk of suicide, while having appropriate access to healthcare and support lowers this risk. Some people exhibit warning signs that they are considering suicide.

SAVE state that it is important to take notice if someone is:. However, not everybody exhibits these warning signs when they are considering suicide. The best way to find out for certain whether or not someone is considering suicide is to talk to them.

Some people believe that talking about suicide can cause others to experience suicidal thoughts. However, research has shown this is not true. For example, one review found that talking about suicide does not increase the risk of it. In fact, it may even decrease the risk by allowing people to share any thoughts and feelings that they are struggling with.

Although talking to someone about their thoughts of suicide may feel intrusive, it could save their life. Some examples of ways to start a conversation include:. Samaritans recommend listening to what the person has to say without judgment, using a technique known as active listening. This involves:. Experiencing suicidal thoughts does not always mean that a person will kill themselves.

Samaritans state that around 1 in 5 people think about suicide at some point in their lives. Often, this is in response to a temporary feeling or situation. In many cases, people who experience thoughts about suicide do not act on them.

However, if a person has suicidal intent, it means that they have made a decision and intend to act on these thoughts. This is an important distinction to make, as having suicidal intent indicates that someone needs immediate help. If someone intends to end their own life, it is important to act quickly. SAVE recommend:. People can also use these steps to help others online. The following social media sites, as well as some others, have ways to report suicidal content:.

People who consider suicide do not always want to die. Often , people consider suicide because they feel hopeless and cannot think of a way out of their current situation. Intervention can help a person regain a sense of hope or show them another perspective. It is a common misconception that people who talk about or attempt suicide do so for attention and, therefore, do not need help.

However, any suicidal thoughts or behaviors indicate severe distress. As a result, it is important to take them seriously. Even if a person does not intend to kill themselves, talking about suicide or acting in a self-destructive manner can indicate that they need mental health support. There are many reasons that a person might consider suicide. Some people consider suicide due to specific events or life experiences, while others may do so because of a physical or mental health condition that causes them unbearable pain.

A person may feel suicidal but not want to die. It is still important that they seek support for suicidal thoughts. Learn about the resources…. In this article, learn about why some people consider suicide.

It also covers what to do if you or a loved one experiences these thoughts. However, it is not a correct term. Learn more. Suicide is preventable with the right treatment and support. Learn about the warning signs and risk factors for suicide in this article.

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