DEFINITION

LEGISLATION

• In most Western countries, suicide is no longer a crime, it however was in most Western European countries from the Middle Ages until at least the 1800s. Most of Muslim majority nations label it a criminal offense.

In Australia suicide is not a crime. No country in Europe currently considers suicide or attempted suicide to be a crime. England and Wales decriminalized suicide via the Suicide Act 1961 and the Republic of Ireland in 1993. The word "commit" was used in reference to it being illegal however many organizations have stopped it because of the negative connotation. In India, suicide is illegal and surviving family may face legal difficulties. In Germany, active euthanasia is illegal and anyone present during suicide may be prosecuted for failure to render aid in an emergency. Switzerland has recently taken steps to legalize assisted suicide for the chronically mentally ill.

PHILOSOPHY• A number of questions are raised within the

philosophy of suicide, included what constitutes suicide, whether or not suicide can be a rational choice, and the moral permissibility of suicide. Philosophical arguments in regard to whether or not suicide can be morally acceptable range from strong opposition, (viewing suicide as unethical and immoral), through to perceptions of suicide as a sacrosanct right for anyone (even a young and healthy person) who believes they have rationally and conscientiously come to the decision to end their own lives.

METHODS

1 . F i r e a r m s

2 . H a n g i n g

3 . P o i s o n i n g

4 . C u t t i n g

5 . F a l l

Personality Characteristics

1. Impulsivity / Aggressive

2. External Locus of Control

3. Hopelessness

4. Reduced Specific Memory

Risk factors contributing to

suicide• Mental disorders

Mental disorders are often present at the time of suicide with estimates ranging from 27%[ to more than 90%. Half of all people who die by suicide may have major depressive disorder; having this or one of the other mood disorders such as bipolar disorder increases the risk of suicide 20-fold. Other conditions implicated include schizophrenia (14%), personality disorders (14%), bipolar disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. About 5% of people with schizophrenia die of suicide. Eating disorders are another high risk condition.

Suicide and Mental Disorders: general population studies

Neurobiological FactorsRecent studies in neurobiology have

implicated deficient neurotransmission

of serotonin (a chemical messenger in

the brain) as a factor in suicide. The

results of chemical analyses of the

brains of suicide victims, and other

biochemical studies, support the

serotonin theory. It is l ikely that

serotonin acts in concert with other

chemical messengers in the brain;

however, the process by which

serotonergic dysregulation may play a

part in suicide is sti l l the subject of

research

GENES AND

SUIcIDALITY

Drug and Alcohol AbuseMany s tud ies have found h ighe r ra tes o f su i c ide

among a l coho l i cs and d rug abusers (Les te r, 1992) . A l coho l and subs tance abuse by ado lescen ts o f ten immed ia te l y p recedes su ic ida l behav iour. Such abuse i s f requen t l y re la ted to the su i c ida l a t tempt and de l i be ra te l y pa r t o f the a t tempt i t se l f . H ighe r ra tes o f su i c ida l i dea t i on and behav io rs ' have been shown among peop le who a re subs tance abuse rs ac ross popu la t ions and ove r t ime . As fo r o the r r i sk fac to rs , hav ing th i s behav io r does no t necessar i l y t rans la te i n to su i c ide o r su i c ide a t tempts . Wh i l e most subs tance abuse rs do no t make a t tempts on the i r l i ves , subs tance abuse does i nc rease r i sk fo r peop le w i th o the r vu lne rab i l i t i es .

Many o f the phys io log i ca l , and soc ia l e f fec ts o f severe a l coho l abuse (mar r i age b reak -ups , d is rup t i on o f soc ia l t i es , impa i rment o f wo rk pe r fo rmance and cop ing sk i l l s , l ower ing o f no rma l res t ra in ts on behav io r, i nc reased impu ls i veness , and dep ress ion) wou ld reasonab ly be expec ted to i nc rease the l i ke l i hood o f su i c ida l behav io r .

Ecological Model

Individual

Peer/Family

Society Community

Religion & Countries

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Hindu1995

Buddhist1986

Muslim1985,87

Atheist1995,96

Christian1994

total male female

Suicide rates according to religion (per 100,000)

Suicide Prevention StrategiesEnvironmental

• Reduced access to Methods

• Enlightened Media Reporting

• Cluster Prevention

Individuals at Risk

• Identifying and Easy access

• Education of GPs

• Crisis Line

Psychopharmacology

• Lithium

• Clozapin

Psychotherapy

• D.B.T.