Suicide Cases Rising: Trend or Serious Problem?

Suicidal feelings can mean having abstract thoughts about ending your life or feeling that people would be better off without you. Or it can mean thinking about methods of suicide or making clear plans to take your own life. Suicide is complex, and there are many factors that might lead a person to experience suicidal thoughts or behaviours. Suicidal ideation can be the result of psychological, social, environmental or situational factors.

No one can predict who will take their own life. But there are some risk factors to look out for, which can include:

50. Stressful life events, such as financial or legal problems, or a relationship breakdown
50. Bereavement
50. Physical illness
50. Current mental illness, such as depression
50. A history of mental illness or a previous suicide attempt
50. Misusing drugs or alcohol more than the person normally would
50. Poor living conditions, homelessness or poverty
50. Family violence or sexual assault or abuse

Suicide in children and teenagers can follow stressful life events. What a young person sees as serious and insurmountable may seem minor to an adult — such as problems in school or the loss of a friendship. In some cases, a child or teen may feel suicidal due to certain life circumstances that he or she may not want to talk about, such as:

1.     Having a psychiatric disorder, including depression
2.     Loss or conflict with close friends or family members
3.     History of physical or sexual abuse
4.     Problems with alcohol or drugs
5.     Physical or medical issues, for example, becoming pregnant or having a sexually transmitted infection
6.     Being the victim of bullying
7.     Being uncertain of sexual orientation
8.     Reading or hearing an account of suicide or knowing a peer who died by suicide

If you have concerns about a friend or family member, asking about suicidal thoughts and intentions is the best way to identify risk.

Suicide, taking your own life, is a tragic reaction to stressful life situations — and all the more tragic because suicide can be prevented. Whether you're considering suicide or know someone who feels suicidal, learn suicide warning signs and how to reach out for immediate help and professional treatment. You may save a life — your own or someone else's.

To help keep yourself from feeling suicidal:

1. Get the treatment you need. If you don't treat the underlying cause, your suicidal thoughts are likely to return. You may feel embarrassed to seek treatment for mental health problems, but getting the right treatment for depression, substance misuse or another underlying problem will make you feel better about life — and help keep you safe.
2. Establish your support network. It may be hard to talk about suicidal feelings, and your friends and family may not fully understand why you feel the way you do. Reach out anyway, and make sure the people who care about you know what's going on and are there when you need them. You may also want to get help from your place of worship, support groups or other community resources. Feeling connected and supported can help reduce suicide risk.
3. Remember, suicidal feelings are temporary. If you feel hopeless or that life's not worth living anymore, remember that treatment can help you regain your perspective — and life will get better. Take one step at a time and don't act impulsively.

Your psychiatric may do a physical exam, tests and in-depth questioning about your mental and physical health to help determine what may be causing your suicidal thinking and to determine the best treatment.