Suicide Is A Serious Public Health Problem - 2089 Words

Introduction Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States and approximately forty thousand Americans commit suicide annually (CDC, 2013). Globally, there are 14.5 suicides per 100,000 people (Hawton van Heeringen, 2009). Suicide is the act of purposefully causing one’s own demise and is complex; it could be due to a wide variety of risk factors and social determinants. Many people that have committed suicide have a mental disorder that could have been treated, thus suicide could have been prevented. Suicidal ideation, which is thoughts of hurting or killing oneself, can also lead to suicide if help is not sought (Bridge, Goldstein Brent, 2006). As many resources as there are available to prevent suicide, people are†¦show more content†¦From 1999 to 2005, the overall suicide rate increased by 0.7% in the general population and significantly rose in the African American population (Bridge, Goldstein Brent, 2006). Studies have shown that suicide rates quadrupl ed in adolescents who lived in a home with firearms. There is an approximation of ten to twenty-five attempted suicides for every completed suicide and that estimation rises for adolescents and young adults to one hundred to two hundred attempts for every completed suicide (Maris 2002). From 2000 to 2010, the rate of suicide increased to 12.3 from 10.4 completed suicides per 100,000 people. The prevalence of suicide in 2012 was 12.6 per 100,000 people (CDC, 2012). Biomedical and Scientific Understanding of Suicide There are many causes, contributing factors, and risk factors that lead people to commit suicide. Many people have mental disorders, relationship problems, or mental disabilities that lead them to commit suicide. Societal pressure and change are also factors. People may commit suicide for a variety of reasons and some suicides have to do with genetics as well. Risk Factors of Suicide Risk factors are qualities or exposures that increase the prospect of developing an injury or disease. There are a variety of risk factors of those who commit or attempt suicide. However, it is important to note that not all of the risk factors lead to