Within the last few decades, the act of killing oneself (suicide) among teenagers and young adults has tripled, and has become the third leading cause of death.
Why doesn't it seem to be that common though statistics say so?
Suicide is an extremely desperate act and families of victims are definitely not proud of it. My analysis is that there must be even more unreported deaths by suicide than those accounted for. When medico-legal examinations are not required for a death (no crime reported), one could pay a doctor to not put anything related to suicide in the death certificate. Even so, among college students (18-24 years of age), it is the second leading cause of death. Young adults seem to kill themselves more than others. One in seven college students think about suicide and one in twelve students actually planned to do it at least once. Every two hours and two-and-a-half minutes, a person under the age of twenty-five successfully commits suicide.
Risk Factors
There are many Risk factors including mental disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, schizophrenia, and drug abuse. Alcoholism and use of party drugs can also increase the risk. Let's get familiarized with some of the risk factors.
Depression
It is characterized by low mood which lasts for at least two weeks. It is not affected by changes in circumstances. Low self-esteem may also be experienced along with the loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities. One experiences low energy and pain without apparent reasons. People may sometimes have negative false beliefs about themselves or see or hear things that others cannot (classic symptoms of delusion and psychosis respectively which are different from depression). Different people have longer or shorter periods of depression that may be separated by months or years in which they feel normal while there are some patients who nearly always show symptoms of depression.
Depression (technically known as major depressive disorder) can negatively affect a person's individual, work, or family life, as well as performing basic tasks such as sleeping, eating and general hygiene. Around 2–7% of adults with severe depression die by suicide and up to 60% of people who die by suicide had mood disorders like depression.
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder which was previously labeled 'manic depression'. It causes periods of low mood (depression) and periods of elevated mood (called mania or hypomania for mild cases). The elevated mood must be significant (beyond normal) for the case to be called bipolar disorder. Symptoms of psychosis may be present especially during periods of mania. During manic episodes, an individual behaves or feels over-energetic, happy, or even cranky or irritable. They often make bad decisions with little thought and they may suffer severe consequences. Sleep is usually reduced during manic phases while there might be crying, and very low self-esteem, during depressive episodes. They may also have a negative outlook on life, and avoid eye contact with other people. The risk of suicide among people with bipolar disorder is high at more than 6 percent over 20 years. Also, self-harm occurs in around 30–40 percent of patients. Other symptoms of anxiety disorders and substance use disorder may also be observed.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder with hallmark symptoms including abnormal social behavior and having strange false beliefs. They may confuse what's real with what's imaginary. Other common symptoms include confusion or unclear thinking, hearing voices that no one else can hear (psychosis), limited social engagement and emotional expression, and being demotivated. Individuals with schizophrenia often have other mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or drug addiction. Symptoms usually start gradually in young adulthood and can last a lifetime if the person remains untreated.
Many factors can cause schizophrenia including genetic and environmental factors. Being raised in a city may increase the risk, the use of marijuana during adolescence, certain kinds of infections, and poor nutrition during pregnancy. There are a variety of genetic factors including common and rare genetic characteristics. Diagnostics include observing the patient's behavior, the person's experiences compared with reports of others familiar or living with the patient. A person's culture is also taken into account during diagnosis.
Personality disorders
They're different kinds of mental disorders that include long-term maladaptive behavioral patterns, cognition, and inner experience, present across many environments and situations and significantly different from those behaviors accepted by the person's culture. These patterns develop early, are unchanging, and are causing significant distress or disability in the person's life. Official criteria for diagnosis are enumerated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and other references.
'Personality', is the set of long-term behavioral and mental traits that make individuals different from others. Thus, personality disorders are marked by behaviors and experiences that are significantly different from what's accepted/expected by the society. Those diagnosed with a personality disorder may experience difficulties in emotional responses, cognition, interpersonal functions, or may be impulsive. 40–60% of psychiatric patients are diagnosed with personality disorders in general, making personality disorders the most common type of psychiatric disorders.
Drug Abuse
Also known as Substance abuse, it is the use of a drug where the user takes the substance in amounts or with dangerous methods that are harmful to their health and is a form of a substance-related disorder. Definitions of drug abuse differ in the field public health, across different medical and criminal contexts. In some cases anti-social behavior occurs when the person is under the influence of a drug, increasing the risk of committing crimes.
Long-term personality changes in individuals may occur as well as they become more and more dependent on the substance they're abusing.
Illegal drugs have been proven to cause physical, social, and psychological harm. The use of drugs merits heavy criminal penalties in different countries.
Examples of abused drugs include alcohol, marijuana (cannabis), barbiturates, cocaine, benzodiazepines, methaqualone, opioids and some amphetamines.
The exact cause of substance abuse is still not clear, though some researchers have established that the environment is a major (if not the key)factor. Drug addiction is a chronic debilitating disease that often persists even after undergoing treatment.
All of the causes listed above have been statistically documented in the field of mental health. If ever you experience some of the symptoms described above, especially if accompanied by suicidal thoughts, you're at risk of committing suicide. Seek professional help immediately.
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