The world is full of problems for society to deal with. One such social problem is the problem of suicide. Suicide is the death of a person where the cause of death is self-inflicted. In other words, a person intentionally ends there own life. Suicide can be considered a social problem because it is preventable and causes premature death to an individual. A person’s decision to think of, and go through with thoughts of suicide can be influenced by a great deal of factors ranging from environmental factors to psychological factors. Suicide is fairly common to those living with chronic pain or illnesses, suffering from depression, suffering from addictions to alcohol and drugs, or feelings of hopelessness. It is important to understand that in
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In the year 2020, approximately 1.53 million people will die from suicide based on current trends and according to WHO estimates. Ten to twenty times more people will attempt suicide worldwide. This represents on average one death every twenty seconds and one attempt every one to two seconds (Fond, 2015). According to the Center for Disease Control, approximately thirty-four thousand people commit suicide every single year. Yet, there are still many more people who attempt and fail at committing suicide. It is believed that more than three hundred thousand people end up in the hospital every year due to a self inflicted injury or suicide attempt. What is worse is that these attempts not only potentially permanently disfigure or disable a person, but also can have lasting impacts on both their mental state and affects their family members (Baily, 2011). In reference to the CDC’s 2007 data, “The overall suicide rate was 11.5%. On average every 15.2 minutes someone kills themselves, every 1 hour 37 minutes an elderly person commits suicide, and every 2 hours 7 minutes a young person commits suicide” (Baily, 2011). With these figures it is easy to see why suicide is such a major problem in today’s …show more content…
Important ways to help include listening to the individual in a nonjudgmental manner, provide support, and seek the aid of a doctor or mental health professional (Torpy, Lynm, & Glass, 2005). However that is not the only course of action. “Suicide prevention usually includes a pharmacological cocktail, supportive psychotherapy, and sometimes electroconvulsive therapy” (Maris, 2002). The best way to confront and prevent suicide is through early intervention. “This approach forces interventions at the level of the environment and means of self-destruction, rather than focusing on the individual at risk” (Maris, 2002). This can be achieved by increasing coping skills in children, restricting access to methods of suicide such as firearms, and increase education within communities. Primary intervention could also include attempting to reduce known population risk factors that include depression, substance abuse, isolation from others, poverty, and access to guns (Maris, 2002). These are just a few primary preventative measures, however there needs to be more, and they are needed
In the year 2020, approximately 1.53 million people will die from suicide based on current trends and according to WHO estimates. Ten to twenty times more people will attempt suicide worldwide. This represents on average one death every twenty seconds and one attempt every one to two seconds (Fond, 2015). According to the Center for Disease Control, approximately thirty-four thousand people commit suicide every single year. Yet, there are still many more people who attempt and fail at committing suicide. It is believed that more than three hundred thousand people end up in the hospital every year due to a self inflicted injury or suicide attempt. What is worse is that these attempts not only potentially permanently disfigure or disable a person, but also can have lasting impacts on both their mental state and affects their family members (Baily, 2011). In reference to the CDC’s 2007 data, “The overall suicide rate was 11.5%. On average every 15.2 minutes someone kills themselves, every 1 hour 37 minutes an elderly person commits suicide, and every 2 hours 7 minutes a young person commits suicide” (Baily, 2011). With these figures it is easy to see why suicide is such a major problem in today’s …show more content…
Important ways to help include listening to the individual in a nonjudgmental manner, provide support, and seek the aid of a doctor or mental health professional (Torpy, Lynm, & Glass, 2005). However that is not the only course of action. “Suicide prevention usually includes a pharmacological cocktail, supportive psychotherapy, and sometimes electroconvulsive therapy” (Maris, 2002). The best way to confront and prevent suicide is through early intervention. “This approach forces interventions at the level of the environment and means of self-destruction, rather than focusing on the individual at risk” (Maris, 2002). This can be achieved by increasing coping skills in children, restricting access to methods of suicide such as firearms, and increase education within communities. Primary intervention could also include attempting to reduce known population risk factors that include depression, substance abuse, isolation from others, poverty, and access to guns (Maris, 2002). These are just a few primary preventative measures, however there needs to be more, and they are needed