Suicide and Demographics

[Kan' Sharuminar]

Interesting note: when I was in high school, before I was diagnosed with depression and just assumed the entire universe was the problem. I contemplated suicide. Not in the sense of seriously considering it, I just wanted, for future reference, to know how I would feel about it. I decided that because of my religious beliefs I couldn't do it. Not that I considered suicide a sin, but as I believed in an afterlife I decided that merely killing myself would not be enouigh to make my problems go away. And later when I was diagnosed I learned it was just faulty wiring or a chemical imbalance or something anyways.

I learned the same thing recently. Sort of a not seriously contemplating suicide, but more of a "i could do this" kinda deal?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I learned the same thing recently. Sort of a not seriously contemplating suicide, but more of a "i could do this" kinda deal?

It might be a good idea, because it allows one to rationally focus on all the drawbacks (it would have also broke my parent's hearts, I couldn't have that) before the moment comes and one has a harder time listening to reason.

 

[Kan' Sharuminar]

It might be a good idea, because it allows one to rationally focus on all the drawbacks (it would have also broke my parent's hearts, I couldn't have that)

Among other reasons, that was the big one - felt kinda selfish to throw such emotional baggage on other people.

 

[Kyriakos]

Speaking to a psychiatrist of one of the main hospitals in this city, i got the reply that on average there are two cases of attempted (and failed) suicide that arrive in that hospital each day. The city has a population of roughly 1,2 million people. The large hospitals are at least seven, and there are various other private clinics, some of them even bigger than the state run hospitals, so there should be more than 20 attempted suicides per day, which reach them. Multiply with 365, and the number is not very pleasant, but still it is a lot smaller than the estimated 6% of schizophrenics and psychotics in the general population. Obviously not all people who attempt to kill themselves are such, but suicide due to chronic depression is on the rise (the other type of suicide is one caused by momentary desperation).

 

[Narz]

Wow Yeeek, glad you made it out ok.

I've been in a few car accidents myself (none since 2003 though) and have thought many times about how I used to seek excitement (even life threatening excitement) thru recklessness (being a bike messenger, driving too fast, etc.).

I'd bet willing to bet that 50% or more of suicides are not reported as such. For example my friend overdosed on medication inducing a heart attack. His parents were ashamed and officially his cause of death was listed as a heart attack. His obituary was full of lies as well (it said he "died at home" when actually he died in a run down motel room, it said he was a college student when actually he'd dropped out over two years prior and was unemployed, and it went on like this). Even liver and lung cancer (thru smoking & drinking) could be considered slow suicides as could heart attacks brought on thru overwork.

 

[Fugitive Sisyphus]

Even liver and lung cancer (thru smoking & drinking) could be considered slow suicides as could heart attacks brought on thru overwork.

Life itself is a slow suicide.

 

[Yeeek]

How is life a suicide in itself? Could you argument more because to be honest with you, i was saying stuff like this when i was in depression.

Life is a sexually transmissible disease and other such non sense. That was my speech a few years back. Quite frankly i was an idiot. After living like a vegetable for many years (6 if you are curious), the bitter taste of having no goal, no friends, playing with death itself, gaining 40kg (roughly 80lb). I can tell you, life is worth it. Its just a friggin game, every game has to end. Wether you wan't to stay on the bench or play the game 'till the end is up to you. I also learned that you are not alone, there are people out there who you can trust. Few of them, i can give you that, but they do exist.

 

[nonconformist]

How is life a suicide in itself? Could you argument more because to be honest with you, i was saying stuff like this when i was in depression.

Life is a sexually transmissible disease and other such non sense. That was my speech a few years back. Quite frankly i was an idiot. After living like a vegetable for many years (6 if you are curious), the bitter taste of having no goal, no friends, playing with death itself, gaining 40kg (roughly 80lb). I can tell you, life is worth it. Its just a friggin game, every game has to end. Wether you wan't to stay on the bench or play the game 'till the end is up to you. I also learned that you are not alone, there are people out there who you can trust. Few of them, i can give you that, but they do exist.

then, on the other end of the scale are self-destructives.

 

[Sidhe]

How is life a suicide in itself? Could you argument more because to be honest with you, i was saying stuff like this when i was in depression.

Life is a sexually transmissible disease and other such non sense. That was my speech a few years back. Quite frankly i was an idiot. After living like a vegetable for many years (6 if you are curious), the bitter taste of having no goal, no friends, playing with death itself, gaining 40kg (roughly 80lb). I can tell you, life is worth it. Its just a friggin game, every game has to end. Wether you wan't to stay on the bench or play the game 'till the end is up to you. I also learned that you are not alone, there are people out there who you can trust. Few of them, i can give you that, but they do exist.

Here here Yeek, life is more important than a slow slide to death, holistically you make an impact on everyone around you and their lives, if your lucky, they are made more meaningful by your presence, get over the I must be all I can be, just be who you are, and if you make a difference to one small person on one small planet, in a small part of a solar system, etc,etc,etc. Then you've done enough. I'm not Gandhi and I'm not Jesus and I'm not a great person, nor likely will I ever be, but even the most pointless waif of humanities flotsam and jetsom, has the ability to make someone somewhere achieve so much more, most people are just so selfish they just don't realise the impact they have on others, good or bad, it's all part of the whole.

 

[Fugitive Sisyphus]

Life itself is a slow suicide.

This statement was based on Narz saying drinkers and smokers are committing slow suicide since smoking and drinking is hazardous to your health. I was saying that, in that case, life is a slow suicide (it has a 100% fatality rate). I could also say McDonald's is a slow suicide.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Life is a sexually-transmitted disease, but the trick is, if we thumb our noses at the universe and insist that it has meaning, then it does have meaning. The purpose is in the struggle.

 

[Sims2789]

Are suburban whites more likely to commit suicide than non-suburban whites? The stereotype is that suburban parents are either extremely permissive try to be extremely controlling but end up giving into their children's beggings.

 

[Narz]

This statement was based on Narz saying drinkers and smokers are committing slow suicide since smoking and drinking is hazardous to your health. I was saying that, in that case, life is a slow suicide (it has a 100% fatality rate). I could also say McDonald's is a slow suicide.

Actually there are many factors which detirmine the length of our lives within our control (most I'd say). Therefore I'd say not everyone is commiting suicide (the ones dedicated to living as long, and hopefully as happy) as possible. I'd say whether someone hastens death towards them or pushes it away detirmines whether they could be called passively suicidal or not. Of course everyone does both in their own way, no man has perfect habits.

 

[Miss Bliss]

Narz, is that because they do not have habits to begin with or they do not have the right washing detergents?

 

[Narz]

Please do explain Miss Bliss.

By the way, welcome to CFC.

 

[Miss Bliss]

Just playing with your comment that no man has perfect habits!!!

I presume you haven't encountered many nuns

Also I was being sort of philosophical...in relation to pushing away or drawing to oneself a life of slow demise, in misery...and my belief that when all is now, there is total perfection...When one is fully immersed in the radiant moment there is nothing that resembles death...

But mostly I was just being cheeky with the nun's habits amd not having the perfect one because of the absence of washing substances!!!

Thanks for the welcome!

 

[Heretic_Cata]

Does anyone know why males are so much more "successful" in their attempts? Do males try more "effective" methods than females? Does someone have some statistics on this?

Yea, probably because males prefer more direct ways to kill oneself. Everytime i thought of suicide i always imagined knives. No pills or poison or that kind of stuff.

And why do minorities have a lower suicide rate than whites? Wouldn't they feel excluded from society?

Well this is preety obvious. The most frustrating thing for me during my depression years was the lack of materialisation of the source of my suffering and the huge number of unknown/random variables.
So for a minority it is VERY easy to say "it's the (majority)'s fault." So if some minority guy would find itself in a major depression it would be easier to blame something "material" and easy to hate (such as another person) if the true source of the pain is not confrontable enough.
Does that make any sense ?

Remember, if you are considering suicide, seek immediate help from someone you trust.

But what would you do if you don't trust anyone ? (like the situation i was in)

The people who love you would be immeasurably sad if someone they loved died.

If i were depressed i would say i wouldn't care or even say i would like that, but i am not depressed, i am even mentally stable now.

Problems happen when things don't get out in the open, not when they do.

True, but some circumstances can force silence.
And it's not as easy as it sounds to get things out in the open.
Me, i can't even write some of my problems on a piece of paper ...

 

[Narz]

Just playing with your comment that no man has perfect habits!!!

People like to play with my comments. They are designed for both playful and serious interpretation.

I presume you haven't encountered many nuns

A few, when I was in Tibet.

Also I was being sort of philosophical...in relation to pushing away or drawing to oneself a life of slow demise, in misery...and my belief that when all is now, there is total perfection...When one is fully immersed in the radiant moment there is nothing that resembles death...

What about the moment you die? And what's wrong with death anyway?

But mostly I was just being cheeky with the nun's habits amd not having the perfect one because of the absence of washing substances!!!

Ah, forgive me for not catching the clever pun.

Thanks for the welcome!

You're welcome.

 

[Narz]

Well this is preety obvious. The most frustrating thing for me during my depression years was the lack of materialisation of the source of my suffering and the huge number of unknown/random variables.
So for a minority it is VERY easy to say "it's the (majority)'s fault." So if some minority guy would find itself in a major depression it would be easier to blame something "material" and easy to hate (such as another person) if the true source of the pain is not confrontable enough.
Does that make any sense ?

Yeah, it does.

But what would you do if you don't trust anyone ? (like the situation i was in)

Try to build trust in yourself I'd say. People are not always predictable, even you aren't but... well perhaps learn to see everything as somehow ok and as a learning experience. Trust yourself first and then see everyone else as an extension of yourself. Sound a little philosophical I know but that's how I see things these days and I haven't been depressed in over six years (after having suffered from major depression from ages 13 to 21 and having been on many, many drugs for it).

If i were depressed i would say i wouldn't care or even say i would like that, but i am not depressed, i am even mentally stable now.

I am truly glad you are feeling better man!

True, but some circumstances can force silence.

Maybe a gag in your mouth but otherwise what?

And it's not as easy as it sounds to get things out in the open.
Me, i can't even write some of my problems on a piece of paper ...

How come?

 

[azzaman333]

I think i might be depressed at the moment, but i dont think my friends or family know it. Although, i think my friends might be starting to get a little suspicious, since in the last 2 weeks before school holidays i turned up once. I have a lot of trouble sleeping most nights, going to sleep after midnight most nights, and having trouble waking up before 11am most mornings. The 2 C's on my midyear report were much more 'noticed' than the A-A+'s on the other 6 subjects. I find it much harder not to be a complete *******, i guess to try and make other people feel the way i do. A good mood for me is the equivalent to normal for everyone else (although, this is an assumtion). I am seeing a shrink tomorrow though, so im hoping that things will turn around in the near future.

It doesnt in any way shock me that white males tend to commit suicide more since in other cultures family is much more important. "American" culture (to me) seems to have parents so focused on making their kids lives better, that they destroy it. This is because too many parents think that money will fix anything and everything. Also, the familys that have two parents working 9-5 makes the children less accustomed to thier own families, and leaves the children feeling ignored, no one to talk to, best way to fix the problem is to get away from it, best way to get away from it is killing yourself. (Only partially based on personal experience)