Myths & Facts about Suicide

• Myth: A person attempting suicide says, "God beckons me."



• Myth: When even some religious treatises have advocated suicide, how can it be prevented ?



• Myth: Only others commit suicide. It will not happen to me.



• Myth: People who talk about suicide do not commit it, but only threaten to do so.



• Myth: A person committing suicide never reveals his/her intention to anyone.



• Myth: A person who attempts suicide will definitely complete it at some time.



• Myth: If a person is saved once, there is no need to bother about him later.



• Myth: Only poor people commit suicide.



• Myth: Suicide runs in families, so nothing can be done.



• Myth: Suicidal persons are always mentally ill.



• Myth: Asking about suicidal thoughts may precipitate it.
  

According to a recent study from Bangalore, about one-third of those committing suicide had verbally communicated or told someone or indicated their suicidal ideation indirectly a few days earlier. In Thailand, half of those committing the act gave clear warning signs.

Some suicide Statistics (2005)
Actual Suicides attempts in 2005

• In 2005, 17 percent of all deaths are from suicide.


• On average, one suicide occurs every 16 minutes in the U.S.


• Suicide is the third leading cause of death in 10- to 19-year-olds today in the united states National Center for Health Statistics, 2007.


• Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24 year olds.(1st = accidents, 2nd = homicide)


• Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 25-34 year olds.


• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students.


• More males die from suicide than females.(4 male deaths by suicide for each female death by suicide.)


• More people die from suicide than from homicide.(Suicide ranks as the 11th leading cause of death; Homicide ranks 13th.)


• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 25-34 year olds and the third leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year olds.


• Males take their own lives at nearly four times the rate of females and represent 79.4% of all U.S. suicides.
  (Center of Disease Control and Prevention, CDC)


• Over one million people die by suicide worldwide each year


• Global suicide rates have increased 60% in the past 45 years.


• There were over 800,000 suicide nt of U.S high school students said that they had seriously considered or attempted suicide in the last 12 months. (Eaton & others, 2006)


• On average, one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds somewhere in the world.

Let's think: why does it happen?