Oct
10
2009
Commits Suicide
Author: adminSuicide is a complex act which is the result of many factors, not all of which are understandable. It is unclear why or predictable failures, losses, or difficulties that could lead a person to feel very unhappy, can lead someone to suicide. It is estimated that about 30,000 Americans die as a result of suicide each year and about 20,000 people were killed. Some experts, however, believe that the number of suicides is even higher. Many “accidents” as a self-inflicted gunshot wound or a car accident actually may be unknown or unreported suicides. Although no official record is kept of suicide attempts, it is estimated that there are between 8 and 25 attempts for every completed suicide. Overall, suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. Suicides are not distributed equally throughout the population. Although more women than men attempt suicide, about four times more people die because they use more lethal means.
Men of European descent made 72% of all suicides in 1997, while women of European origin accounted for about 18 percent of those deaths. The rate of suicide among people of Native American descent, particularly young men aged 15 to 24 is particularly high. Rate of suicide among men of African descent aged 15 to 19 doubled between 1980 and 1996. Age is another factor for suicide. After 65 years of age, the rate of suicide among men of European heritage increases continuously as they grow up. Males of European heritage who are older than 85 have a suicide rate that is six times higher than the national average. The reasons for the different levels of suicide among people of different ethnic origin, gender, age, and vary. Some factors include increased rates of alcoholism, poverty, loneliness, violence and some groups at some point in life.
