Suicide: Following the Warning Signs

Though BC's suicide rates have remained fairly stable over time, roughly 500 per year, suicide rates in Canada have been rising sharply for nearly five decades. Suicide deaths in Canada numbered 4074 in 1999, up 10% for both sexes from the previous year -- the biggest percentage increase since the mid-80s. By contrast, there were fewer than 500 murders and about 3000 motor vehicle accidents.

A closer look at the figures reveals that suicide strikes hardest at the young, the elderly and other vulnerable members of society. For example, Canadian seniors have among the highest suicide rates in the country. In 1998, of all age groups in Canada, men over the age of 85 had the highest rate of completed suicides. In BC In the year 2000, the suicide rate for all men averaged out to 17.5 deaths per 100,000 people; men over 85 had double that rate. Major illness, the death of a spouse, a shrinking circle of friends -- all contribute to stress and depression which can lead to suicide and suicidal behavior.

Canada's youth are another group of Canadians at high risk for suicide. Between 1959 and 1999, the Canadian suicide rate for 15- to 19-year-olds rose from just under two deaths per 100,000 people to just over 12 -- an increase of more than 600%. This makes suicide the second-leading cause of death among young people in Canada, in BC and worldwide. In 2000, 70 young people aged 15-24 took their own lives in BC.

Like the elderly, the majority of adolescents who commit suicide have related mental health issues, including depression, substance use problems and eating disorders.

The increase in suicidal behaviour among Canada's youth indicates that many adolescents feel they should be able to handle their mental and emotional issues on their own. Suicidal youths may be reluctant to turn to others for help, having learned from their role models not to rely on others.

Adolescent and adult suicide rates are even higher in First Nations communities. Deteriorating quality of life in some Native communities may play a role particularly among people with clinical depression, sexual abuse histories, problem alcohol and drug use and limited family support.

One exception to this trend is the low suicide rate among First Nations elders. In many cases, these elders may be less likely to take their own lives because, traditionally, their cultures have valued and respected them for their wisdom.

Other ethno cultural communities also experience variations in suicide rates compared to the general population.

For example, among immigrants to BC born outside Canada, those from India are the visible minority presenting the highest suicide rates. Furthermore, suicides are disproportionately higher in young married women than in single women.

Mental health problems are the common thread in all groups with a high risk for suicide. Studies indicate that as many as 90% of people who commit suicide are experiencing depression, an addiction or other diagnosable disorder when they take their own lives.

People with major mental disorders who attempt or commit suicide do so not out of a desire to die, but out of a desperate need to end their suffering.

Allan, 32, developed post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his childhood sexual abuse history. He says he began to think of suicide at the age of 12, but didn't attempt it until he was 20 years old when he swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills.

About an hour later, he "started thinking about other people, and having feelings again." Allan says these feelings prompted him to call a cab and ride to the nearest hospital. There his stomach was pumped and by the next afternoon, Allan was free to go home. However, he recalls, "I didn't feel anything that day. I didn't feel anything. I just knew I was alive."

In most cases involving suicide, the act itself is not an impulsive decision. In fact, most people who attempt suicide talk about it beforehand without any immediate plans to carry it out. Most people who die by suicide give some indication of their intentions prior to killing themselves; one third leaves a note.

Some people also make suicidal gestures: self-destructive acts that a person associates with suicidal feelings. These actions may include taking a dozen aspirins or making surface cuts on one's wrists. Although these acts do not necessarily result in physical damage, all suicidal behaviour should be treated as a cry for help.

People who are contemplating suicide are deeply troubled, either from real life circumstances or from delusions and/or hallucinations. This is reflected in the various warning signs they give, says the CMHA.

Fortunately, immediate intervention and ongoing support can help a person recover from despair and reconnect with their own self-worth. If other people notice and act on the warning signs, they may have an opportunity to save a life.

Warning Signs of Suicide:

 
How to Help Someone with Thoughts of Suicide: