Crisis of lethality
Suicide is defined as the preconceived act of taking one’s life (Joiner, 2007). The number of suicide cases around the world is growing at an unprecedented rate. Suicide is ranked as one of the top 5 causes of deaths among individuals living in the western world. This worrying trend has brought to focus the underlying issues responsible for this catastrophe. The need to identify factors and avert situations that may lead to suicide is gaining traction amongst the global population. In the recent past, suicide cases were normally few and distant and were often categorized as mental illnesses. However, recent studies have revealed that mental illness is not a pre-requisite for committing suicide. On the contrary, individuals …show more content…
Depression is an extremely sad emotion that causes feelings of hopelessness and pessimism (Marchand, 2012).
Psychological theories such as the psychodynamic theory by Freud as well as the sociological theory advanced by Durkheim have been applied as an attempt to explain suicidal behavior. In this case, psychodynamic theory indicates that suicide is as a result of an internal conflict that causes aggression and depression to develop within an individual. One therefore commits suicide as an attempt to escape the extreme sadness that has built up in his/her system.
The sociological theory incorporates the role that society plays in an individual’s decision to commit suicide. According to the sociological theory, individuals commit suicide as a result of four main reasons:
Egoistic- an individual is not integrated enough in the society or group. This lack of identity causes an individual to feel they do not belong or fit in their social circle.
Anomic- as a result of a genuine or perceived lack of proper regulation in the society, individuals feel the breakdown in systems and find it difficult to cope with the changes in the …show more content…
Individuals who committed suicide were considered to be possessed by evil spirits. However, further studies on the topic have revealed information that has been made available to the public. Public knowledge on the causes, diagnosis and the treatment of depression has led to an enhanced understanding of the condition. In the medical community, the aspect of assisted suicide has brought to focus the ethical role of caregivers in the society. In some instances, individuals commit suicide while on treatment as in the case of facilitated suicide. This situation may imply a misplaced diagnosis by the concerned caregiver and may have ultimately failed to prevent the patient from committing suicide (Paterson, 2008). However, in the case of assisted suicide, a caregiver is aware of the patient’s wishes and deems him/her capable of making the decision to end his/her life. In this case, the caregiver provides the individuals the lethal means of committing
Suicide is defined as the preconceived act of taking one’s life (Joiner, 2007). The number of suicide cases around the world is growing at an unprecedented rate. Suicide is ranked as one of the top 5 causes of deaths among individuals living in the western world. This worrying trend has brought to focus the underlying issues responsible for this catastrophe. The need to identify factors and avert situations that may lead to suicide is gaining traction amongst the global population. In the recent past, suicide cases were normally few and distant and were often categorized as mental illnesses. However, recent studies have revealed that mental illness is not a pre-requisite for committing suicide. On the contrary, individuals …show more content…
Depression is an extremely sad emotion that causes feelings of hopelessness and pessimism (Marchand, 2012).
Psychological theories such as the psychodynamic theory by Freud as well as the sociological theory advanced by Durkheim have been applied as an attempt to explain suicidal behavior. In this case, psychodynamic theory indicates that suicide is as a result of an internal conflict that causes aggression and depression to develop within an individual. One therefore commits suicide as an attempt to escape the extreme sadness that has built up in his/her system.
The sociological theory incorporates the role that society plays in an individual’s decision to commit suicide. According to the sociological theory, individuals commit suicide as a result of four main reasons:
Egoistic- an individual is not integrated enough in the society or group. This lack of identity causes an individual to feel they do not belong or fit in their social circle.
Anomic- as a result of a genuine or perceived lack of proper regulation in the society, individuals feel the breakdown in systems and find it difficult to cope with the changes in the …show more content…
Individuals who committed suicide were considered to be possessed by evil spirits. However, further studies on the topic have revealed information that has been made available to the public. Public knowledge on the causes, diagnosis and the treatment of depression has led to an enhanced understanding of the condition. In the medical community, the aspect of assisted suicide has brought to focus the ethical role of caregivers in the society. In some instances, individuals commit suicide while on treatment as in the case of facilitated suicide. This situation may imply a misplaced diagnosis by the concerned caregiver and may have ultimately failed to prevent the patient from committing suicide (Paterson, 2008). However, in the case of assisted suicide, a caregiver is aware of the patient’s wishes and deems him/her capable of making the decision to end his/her life. In this case, the caregiver provides the individuals the lethal means of committing