I have often wondered what drives a person to commit suicide. The thing is, I've been both active and passive suicide for a long time in my life. It's hell and I hate it. There are both general and specific points that lead a person to commit suicide. Knowing these factors can help along with suicide prevention.
Common factors that lead people to commit suicide
The biggest predictor of suicide is mental illness. Specifically, a psychotic disorder (such as schizophrenia), bipolar disorder, or substance-related disorders have all been found to have elevated risks. from suicide. In the case of bipolar disorder, suicide is a specific symptom of depressive disorder, therefore bipolar depression it can definitely drive you to suicide. In addition, it should be noted Most people with bipolar disorder also have a comorbid substance use disorderputting them at particularly high risk.
In addition to mental illness, other common factors can cause a person to commit suicide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these include:
- Social isolation
- Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
- Feeling despair
- Lack of access to health care
- Suicide squad in society
- The stress of getting used to a new culture
- Community violence
- Historical trauma
- discrimination
- The stigma help-seeking and associated with mental illness
- Dangerous media portrayals of suicide
To be honest, I buy some of these more than others. For example, I think that social isolation definitely leads to suicide, while I'm not sure that current media depictions of suicide really have much of an impact, but that's just me.
Specific events that lead a person to commit suicide
In addition to the above, there are specific events that can help a person commit suicide. I think that it is difficult for everyone to define these events precisely. For example, I was extremely depressed and suicidal is hospitalized after starting a new job. It was the new job that triggered the depressive episode, but it could be said that it was the depression that led to the suicide.
However, the CDC also has a list of specific events that can lead a person to commit suicide. They include:
- Previous suicide try
- such as serious diseases chronic pain
- Criminal/legal problems
- Job/financial problems or loss
- Current or previous history of adverse childhood experiences
- Exposure to violence and/or violence
- Bullying
- History of family/loved one suicide
- Loss of relationships
- High conflict or violent relationships
- Easy access to lethal suicide tools
The thing that made me commit suicide
I have personal experience with some of the above and some not. I can say that for me life changes cause depression. Depression leads to suicide. When I am suicidal, I can focus on some of the factors listed above, so they are the main factors that lead me to commit suicide. For example, I am extremely depressed and may commit suicide. feeling extremely hopeless, and watch out for loss of connectivity and performance issues. This focus will make me feel worse and worse and more and more suicidal.
I can also attest that lack of access to health care is a huge reason for being suicidal. It was a big part of why i tried actually suicide. I felt that if I couldn't see a psychiatrist, I couldn't get help. I couldn't get better if I didn't get help. And if I couldn't get better, there was no point in continuing. I really think that denying people access to proper health care kills people every day.
How to protect yourself from being suicidal
Knowing what to do when you feel suicidal is very important, especially if you are suicidal serious mental illness. But it is better not to commit suicide in the first place. You can put protective factors in place to prevent suicidal menstruating.
According to the CDC, factors that can prevent suicide include:
- Efficient coping and problem solving skills
- Reasons for living (eg family, friends, pets, etc.)
- A strong sense of cultural identity
- Support from partners, friends and family
- A sense of connectedness to other people, school, community and other social institutions
- Availability of consistent and high-quality physical and behavioral health care
- Reduced access to lethal means of suicide
- Cultural, religious or moral objections to suicide
Some of these protective factors you are born with, others you can build into your life. For example, different types of therapy can help you develop effective coping and problem-solving skills and find reasons for living. Being more involved with others and the community (volunteering can be effective) can help you feel connected.
If you are already suicidal
Of course, it's easier to focus on protective factors in good times than in bad times. If I have already committed suicide, I see that three things are important:
- Treatment
- Do not be late
- Distraction
The first is self-evident. If you are suicidal, you should see a professional and get treatment. If you have an illness such as bipolar disorder, this likely means your medication needs to be changed, among other things.
The second is to delay the act of suicide. Like, I think to myself, “I don't have to kill myself right now. I can always do it later.”
If I think I can survive a minute without killing myself, it's worth the delay.
Finally, distraction makes a lot of difference to me. If I sit and think about how depressed and suicidal I am and the problems in my life that won't go away, I will be in more pain and more likely to act on suicidal feelings. I very purposefully focus on things that are safe for me.
It is also important to understand that going to a hospital or psychiatric facility is an important choice. Your life is worth it.
For more information on what to do if you are suicidal, look here.
Contact details can be found here.
What drives a person to commit suicide is personal
While all of the above are important, when it comes down to it, some suicide risk factors will be more important to an individual than others. It is important to know yourself like this. And each of us is more at risk for some things than others. But no one can protect himself from everything.
What I propose is to implement plans: one to prevent suicide, and the other to take action when one commits suicide. You may never need a second one. That would be great. But it's important to have one just in case.
The CDC source is linked here.
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