What other facts about suicide can you gather for this post?
*newly
posted 13Mar13* Suicides Eclipse War Deaths for US Troops
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/09/us/suicides-eclipse-war-deaths-for-us-troops.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120609
Self-Immolation as Protest
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/world/asia/as-self-immolations-continue-some-tibetans-ask-is-it-worth-it.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130203
*newly
posted 13Mar13*
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/world/asia/in-self-immolations-signs-of-new-turmoil-in-tibet.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120323
NYTimes: As Families Change, Korea’s Elderly Are Turning to Suicide
The number of suicides among people 65 and older has nearly quadrupled in recent years, ranking the country’s rate of such deaths among the highest in the developed world. http://nyti.ms/15lJWeA
Guns & Suicide
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/us/to-lower-suicide-rates-new-focus-turns-to-guns.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130214&_r=0
Why Modern Soldiers Are More Susceptible to Suicide
ReplyDeletehttp://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/02/17148761-why-modern-soldiers-are-more-susceptible-to-suicide?lite
I found this article that tries to understand why suicide rates in the military have increased so markedly over the past seventy years. Towards the end of WWII, the number of soldiers who committed suicide fluctuated around ten per one hundred thousand, a value that has more than tripled today. The author explains that this is mainly due the nature of how this country has seemingly been in a continuous war on the terror for the past decade and how citizens faced more adversity in the past that might have allowed them to develop coping mechanisms that could be used in the service (which, presumably, soldiers supposedly lack today and hence why suicide rates are climbing). Some of these points superficially seem valid, but I wonder if there is more to the story.
In my world civ class last semester I learned about widows committing suicide in China and India. In medieval China many woman would commit suicide after the death of their husband. This was seen as a very honorable thing to do. The widows would partake in this act to demonstrate their personal virtue. The stories of these women's suicide would spread, and the spreading of these stories created more pressure on other widows to do the same thing.
ReplyDeleteIn India, the suicide was a little different. The act was called sati. When a woman's husband died, his body was burned. The woman would then jump onto her husband's burning body so that she could be with him forever. However, this was not always a willing act. Some women were forced/pushed onto their husband's burning bodies. It was believed that the women who committed sati were of the most virtuous women and that they went straight to heaven. The sati is illegal in Indian today, but some women do still practice it.
In both cases, (if I remember correctly) part of the reason these women committed suicide, other than to maintain their virtue, was because they were seen as outcasts if they didn't. In the Chinese and Indian societies, women were to be under the control of a man. So if a woman's husband died the woman was seen as suspicious if she continued to live on her own.
Here is a link to a chapter from "Sources of World Societies Volume One" that gives some examples of Chinese women committing suicide
http://books.google.com/booksid=y33_GJw8yZcC&pg=PA286&lpg=PA286&dq=widows+loyal+unto+death&source=bl&ots=f9APuftjPK&sig=DOoVi_LVMCrvM34c37f6bazgplI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ALM3Ua7bKMS20QGsuYGwBA&sqi=2&ved=0CFoQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=widows%20loyal%20unto%20death&f=false
And here is link to a web page that talks about the sati
http://voices.yahoo.com/what-sati-why-still-practiced-some-2664564.html
It is very interesting that this is going to be a topic discussed within class because last week a younger friend from grade school decided to take his own life. Suicide is something I will never understand (I am not sure anyone will ever understand). One thing that does not make sense about this old friend of mine taking his own life is that he put on twitter the day he committed suicide, "I wonder if I would be missed if I was gone." He did not leave a note that I am aware of, but I do know he was on medicine for depression. I don't understand why he would post something on twitter (was it to see who really cared, was it to get attention, did he really mean to kill himself?) These are questions I or his family/friends will never have answers to. It amazes me how many young people turn to suicide as their only way out.
ReplyDeleteTo go along with Michael Stephens post, I do know many people say those who served in the military commit suicide due to the nightmares they constantly have about what they saw while serving. It is interesting to see how the numbers of suicides have changed over the years of war. I wish there was something that could be done in order to prevent suicide. It is a heartbreaking event that I think no one should ever have to go through.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/sunday-review/suicide-with-no-warning.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
DeleteHere is an article I found regarding suicide without warning. In this article it mentions Kerry, a 27 year old who within hours bought a gun a killed himself. A family member said he wasn't even sure if Kerry had ever shot a gun before. It also states more than 60% of gun related deaths are suicide. I am not sure if stricter gun laws will help or not, but it is always worth a try. BUT Guns are not the only things that can let someone kill themselves. If a person is set on taking their own life I hate to say this, but they will do it regardless if they use a gun, knife, jump from a building, etc. It is very sad reading about how many people decide suicide is the only way out.
This topic used to be pretty touchy for me because my parents got a divorce and my dad walked out and didn't leave anything, didn't call, didn't write letters or anything. My mom got back in the dating game and left me to live in our house alone and I was building up a lot of anger. One day it got to be too much and I called my friend and said I had too much and said goodbye. I started thinking about how alone I was in the middle of nowhere Ohio and how bad it sucked. The kid I called knew where I went to think about things and got in his car and came to get me and talk some sense into me. So with what Emily said, it might just be you want to know if anyone still cares and hopefully the person that shows up, like my friend, talks some sense into you. I got sat down and realized that it wasn't my fault and that the world wasn't as bad as they paint it out to be. I talk to anyone and everyone about it because everyone should know that they have more potential than they think. The topic in general of suicide stinks because it's up to the person to take their life and do it with irrational thoughts in their heads and need to have a clear decision before doing anything. I also understand that there may be a time and a place for it because I believe it is up to the person. I'm sorry that happened to your friend Emily, one of my friends from high school did the same thing over the summer and it's still playing a toll on me.
ReplyDeleteI found an article on a study done that is relating the economic recession to increased suicide. It is interesting to see that not only is it seen in the US, but also that it is seen in other countries as well. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/health/us-suicide-rate-rose-during-recession-study-finds.html
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Emily in saying that when people are absolutely determined in killing themselves they will most likely try any way possible. I do not know for sure, but I would think that guns are the most accessible and easiest way out which is why it is so prevalent.
Guns and Suicide- Growing up on a farm, we hunted, and would occassionally venture out into the woods for target practice. Guns were always in the house and we didn't think twice about it. At a very young age(around 6 or 7), my dad taught me how to shoot a gun. I started shooting with a pistol. As I grew older, I moved up to a shotgun when I was big enough to handle the "kick". Just because guns are readily avaible, doesn't mean someone will commit suicide with them. Going along with Emily and Hilda's opinions, if someone is insistant on commiting suicide, they will do it in any way possible.I think the only reason people use guns to commit suicide is because it is the fastest way to get the job done.
ReplyDeleteGuns and Suicide:
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I believe guns never became a problem until recently with all the school/theater/public shootings. There was no problem with people owning them; now we should point the finger and blame the deaths on guns as if they stand up and fire on their own? What's next? Are we going to restrict pens from being used in the classroom just because they are potentially dangerous? We have to remember it takes a person to operate a gun/pen. I do agree that guns should be locked in a safe and more information should be available/taught to families and the public in general.
As far as suicide, I believe there is some type of deep mental state which pulls the person in to continue to think about depressing thoughts. There are several different signs one exerts and as family members or friends of these people it is our duty to pull them back into reality so that they can "wake up and smell the coffee". Life as we know it should have no depressive thought associated with it because of hope. Yeah, things are going to suck and become rocky, but we have to remember they are learning experiences and not dwell on them or our thoughts will tug and pull until we are no longer in reality but a depressive state.
Guns and Suicide...
ReplyDeleteI also believe that if someone is considering suicide they will take their life any way possible. Usually suicidal individuals choose the quickest route possible, which often involves a gun. Though I do not believe that guns are an issue because if they are not available the person will find the next quickest route. Not too long ago I became aware that my baby sister (17 now) has thought of suicide. She has had a rough childhood and I have been here to support her as much as possible. I have made sure that she is aware of my care and love for her. She knows that no matter what time of the night I am here. I always carry my phone with me. She has never attempted to hurt herself but just the thought of her thinking of it scares me. I think this is the most important thing for a suicidal individual, to recognize that there is someone who cares and may have experienced similar issues in their life. Also, to recognize that life may be hard at times but there are moments that are well worth it.
Suicides Eclipse War Deaths for Troops
ReplyDeleteThis article really amazed me. I would have never thought that it would rise so drastically especially when tropps are being pulled out. To think that one per day is commiting suicide really makes me sick that we are losing so many sad live's of heros.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/military/jan-june13/suicides_01-15.html
This article was so interesting to me and goes along well with the one posted above. It truely is saddening.
Ok I read the Korea article. That country is obviously doing something very wrong for these suicides to keep happening. I understand the confucian ideas but in this day it is probably very hard for a family to take in an extra person to care for. I don't think the family has an issue doing this but apparently the elders do or they wouldn't be taking their own life. Their government needs to change and take care of everyone including the elderly. Its sad because I think that even in America the elderly are forgotten about or overlooked.
ReplyDeleteGun control is a huge issue right now but Im not sure how it is going to be "controlled". I have mentioned before my little cousin was accidentally killed by his brother because he was playing with a gun that his dad left out. If that gun would have been put up in a case that situation could be avoided. But suicide is a different matter. That kid in the story was 17 and his dad said he would have known the code for the safe anyway. So a gun safe wouldn't of made a difference there. Even if there was no way to get a gun he may have tried another way but sometimes that isn't as successful as the article points out and they can save them and get them help. So in theory not having guns can prevent some suicides from happening but then you are messing with peoples rights. I own guns for hunting and for protection (hopefully I'll never have to use for protection). Everyone in my family does too, I wouldn't care if they take mine away I just don't get angry over that but I know my family would. If they were to do some kind of screening to get a gun, that would be a start but also a very difficult thing to put in place. But the other issue being suicide. Even though I think it is someones right if that is what they want to do, there should be more interventions in place for that person to get help. I know there are hotline numbers to call but maybe they need people to start talking about prevention and having more reach out programs at school. Both situations are very difficult to something about.
ReplyDelete