Today’s suicide statistics are highly-alarming. In England and Wales alone, there are around 4,700 cases reported on an annual basis – with 70% of them attributable to young men between the ages of 18 and 24. Suicide is often perceived as being the ultimate means of regaining control and offers a coping mechanism for those who attempt it. Often – other self-administered coping systems such as self-medicating with alcohol and drugs can have a highly-damaging effect on a person’s psychological health and wellbeing, and can send them into a downward spiral of intense unhappiness and despair.
Most within the mental-health community believe that suicide is caused psychological-processes, and can sometimes be brought on by harrowing events such as the death of a loved one, serious illness and other traumatic events. Suicide is also thought to sometimes be the outcome of traumatic experiences from the earlier-stages of a person’s life – that have never been resolved. A third cause can be attributed to the use of certain prescription medications – that can lead to a patient suffering from depression, overcoming their lethargy and making a final, radical decision on how to deal with their problems.
There is also a fear that suicide can be genetic and those who attempt it are pre-disposed to the condition. Whilst there is no evidence to substantiate this – suicide is a highly distressing event that can cause emotional havoc during its aftermath and has the ability to effect and determine behaviour. Even if a person succeeds in the act, the legacy of the tragedy is likely to last for years.