Some Facts on Suicide

adapted from "Sociology in Our Times."

  •  The suicide rate is higher than that in the United States. Canada's overall suicide rate is approximately 12 per 100 000 people. In the United States, the rate is consistantly slightly lower, at about 11 per 100 000.
  • Suicide rates are not higher at Christmas than other times of the year. Although it is widely believed that depression and suicide rates are higher at Christmas, research has not found this to be a fact.
  • In global terms, a suicide occurs every forty seconds. The World Health Organization projects that one million people will die of suicide this year: one death every forty seconds, or a global mortality rate of 16 per 100 000. Someone killed themselves in the time it took you to read this paragraph.
  • Men have higher rates of both attempted and completed suicide attempts. In both Canada and the United States, the ratio of male to female suicide is approximately 4:1.
  • Even children know enough to intentionally kill themselves. They may learn the means and methods through television, movies and other people. Data from Statistics Canada indicate that approximately 250 children between the ages of 5 and 14 completed suicide during the period from 1993 to 1997.
  • Most people who commit suicide do not leave notes. According to Canadian researcher Dr. A. Leenaars, the percentage of those who leave notes ranges between 12 and 37 percent.

Preventing Suicide

Watch for the warning signs of suicidal thoughts, and know how to react.

Warning signs include:

  • Jokes about dying, or disappearing
  • Personality changes, a loss of interest in work or hobbies, or family
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Heavy drinking or substance abuse
  • Giving away prized possessions or writing a will
  • Suffering from a loss, such as a death in the family or a divorce.

What to do:

  • Listen and let the person talk about his or her feelings. Always remember that this is about them, not you.
  • Ask if he or she is having suicidal thoughts. If they feel they have someone to talk to, they will talk.
  • Do not swear to secrecy. Tell someone.

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Comments

  • daftweejimmy gold member
    September 11, 2009
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    Interesting.....

    ... but suspect. What you have given is not facts but figures. There's a difference. If you had done your research personally instead of relying on adjusted figures (and these figures are always adjusted and massaged, or if you prefer the term, blatantly misrepresented) you might have to rethink the conclusions that the figures point to. As an example, when I was a psychiatric nurse, we had to submit figures of patients deaths to the secretary of state, who was then obliged to publish the figures in percentage terms, ie, natural causes, murder, suicide, accidental death and so on. I need hardly say that those of us who read the figures when they were published didn't recognise any of the scenarios, since in many cases the figures ran counter to our experiences.

    The best way to think about suicide, potential and actual, is not in terms of figures but in terms of real, live breathing people. In reality, sociological approaches are about as useful as a chocolate fireguard, and for pretty much the same reasons; they can't tolerate the heat, especially the heated question of "What are you doing about it?" Figures might horrify, but I wonder if they make people do anything other than think "Wow, I didn't know it was that high", or "Hey, we've got a league table, check out the way the Americans are in second position."

    As for the tips, they are far too generalised to be much more than vague advice. The only sensible advice if you know someone is suicidal is make sure others who really care know too, and make sure the person contemplating suicide knows this; it's far too heavy a burden for one person to carry.


  • Sammiannnz
    September 11, 2009
    Edit | Reply
    It is very good of you to share this. It helps people like me(murder writers) to make our stories better. And its also good to get awareness up as well.

    Sammi

  • loveyouforever
    September 10, 2009
    Edit | Reply

    ehhhhhhhhhhhh

    dude check it out im suicidal
    i no this
    but still awsome


  • Len Kage
    September 10, 2009
    Edit | Reply
    I think it is good that out posted this. While suicide is a common topic, not many knownthe facts about it.
    Thank you for sharing this, Kevan.