Suicide

Historical and Cultural Issues

The history of suicide goes back for centuries. Many stories in the Old Testament tell of men killing [Page 458]themselves for honor, and literature from the Middle Ages also depicts individuals committing suicide for a just and honorable cause. George Minois (1999) addresses suicide in the Middle Ages and states that it was divided in two social categories. In the first category, a peasant or craftsman may have taken his own life to “escape poverty and suffering.” In the second category, a knight may have taken his own life to “escape humiliation and to deprive the infidel of a victory.” One type of suicide was considered a noble act, whereas the other was seen as cowardice.

In later years, with the spread of Chrisitanity, suicide was condemned and considered an affront to God. It is considered immoral by Judaism and Islam, and attempts are punishable by law in many countries. In ancient Greece, suicide was tolerated for criminals; and in India, where it is now against the law, it was praised at one time.

Demographic Information

The National Institute of Mental Health reports that in 1997, suicide was the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S. Specifically, 10.6 out of every 100,000 persons died by suicide. Research has shown that more than 90% of people who kill themselves suffer from depression or another diagnosable mental or substance abuse disorder.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, over 4 times more men than women die by suicide; however, women report attempting suicide about 2 to 3 times as often as men do. In 1997, 72% of all suicides were committed by white men, and 79% of all firearm suicides were committed by white men. The highest suicide rate was for white men over 85 years of age. Adolescents also seem to fall into a higher risk category for suicide. Peak ages are determined to be ages 14 to 24.

The reasons for committing suicide can range from mental illness to substance abuse to fear. People who commit suicide can be children, adults, and the elderly. Suicide crosses all socioeconomic, age, gender, and racial boundaries.

Assisted Suicide

Although suicide may not be considered a crime, assisted suicide can be. Assisted suicide is the act of an individual who assists another in committing suicide. This can be done by providing the means (i.e., poison, medication) for the person or actually physically assisting them in the process of killing themselves. Another term that may be used for assisted suicide is euthanasia. Robert N. Wennberg (1989)

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