Suicide: An Unfortunate Global Occurrence

Published : June 30, 2008 :: 16:06:41 [ 762 views ]

PDN feels it is necessary to publish the grim truth about the phenomenon of suicide, due to the increasingly large number of suicides in this fair city, which apparently is not viewed universally in this light. This especially as today we have yet again the msfortune to have to reoprt anither farang suicide.

Suicides kill more people than homicide and war, namely 1.8% of worldwide deaths! Global suicide rates have increased 60% over the past 45 years and suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth and young adults, aged 10-24. It’s also is one of the leading causes of death for adults between the ages of 25-44, with men ranking 75 to 80 %. Socio-psychological studies rate single men as the least emotionally stable, followed by married men, and single women; married women are the most emotionally stable.

The current world suicide rate is approximately 1 million per year, or 16 per 100,000 population with one person dying by suicide every 40 seconds. The former Soviet Union appears to have the highest overall worldwide suicide rate, with Lithuania ranking the highest with 40.2 per 100,000 population/per year. The lowest rates are for Haiti, Honduras, Jordan and St. Kitts and Nevis, registering no suicide whatsoever. Thailand ranked 57th out of the total 100 countries represented in 2002, with 7.8 per 100,000 population.

Japan has the highest suicide rates in Asia, in the 2006 official data, the total reached 32,155 annually, putting Japan as the second-highest suicide rate among G8 nations after Russia. Over the past nine years, more than 30,000 Japanese have killed themselves annually – approximately one person every 15 minutes. Recently, a number of suicide websites began to present information on how to make a home-made hydrogen sulphide gas from a deadly concoction of normal household chemical detergent with a liquid cleanser. A single breath of this high-density, colourless gas, which smells like rotten eggs, can apparently cause dizziness, headaches, and in the worst cases, brain damage and suffocation.

Authorities had expressed particular concern because of the gas’ danger to neighbours. Recently, at least four people who died from inhaling the gas were not actual suicide victims, and dozens of others have been treated for nausea and headaches. A 14-year-old girl’s suicide last week forced more than 100 people out of their homes as toxic fumes diffused through her neighbourhood. This has prompted authorities to crackdown on websites providing DIY suicide information and to introduce of more workplace counselling services, with the intent of reducing suicides by 20% over the next ten years, spending 22.5bn yen on the campaign.Apparently, most people contemplate suicide at some point in their lives, but euthanasia is generally the only acceptable reason to kill oneself. A website by an American composer, Jerry Hunt, details how to commit suicide safely using carbon monoxide. He committed suicide in response to terminal cancer. Indeed, when one considers that only an estimated 8 to 10% of individuals kill themselves effectively, and for every suicide, 8 to 10 persons are unsuccessful one can see the benefit in making sure that the method used is successful. Failed suicide attempts often result in permanent physical injury and/or brain damage through overdose of prescription or other drugs.

It is a sobering thought that for every suicide or attempted suicide, up to 10 to 20 or even over 100 persons are affected each time. Those left behind: loved ones, relatives, friends, and co-workers suffer forever. And the financial and time burdens placed on those remaining are horrendous.

Consequently PDN advises that if you know anyone contemplating suicide that they should log into www.suicide.org – suicide prevention, awareness and support – to click on the help line and take note of their warning:

- NEVER ACT ON YOUR THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE.
- SUICIDE IS NEVER THE ANSWER.
- GETTING HELP IS THE ANSWER.

Read all the literature and advice surrounding this subject on suicide. org and remember World Suicide Prevention Day Is Sept 10
Suicide.org – Suicide Prevention, Awareness, and Support!

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