Gender Paradox In Suicide

One of our staff has been suffering from breast cancer for the last couple of months. Her situation has become critical to the extent that she prays for
death but didn't come. One of us paid her a visit in which she was trying to kill herself. He told me what happened. I felt worried when I got home that day and started thinking about it as many thoughts started rolling in my head.

"Has she lost hope?"

"What made her think of suicide?"

I thought and decided to make a write up on suicide.

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^{Creative Commons image licensed under CC-BY-SA-3.0 by Nick Youngson}

Suicide

Suicide is the act of taking one's life. From research, it is said to be the 10th leading cause of the death in the US and one of the leading causes of death worldwide.

It is difficult for one to say this or that is the cause of suicide, but there are some factors that increase the risk of committing suicide. People that are suffering from one mental problem or the other are likely to take their own lives. According to a research, over 90% of people that took their own lives are suffering from mental disorder. One of the top factors that contribute to the risk of committing suicide is depression. Factors like mental disorder (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder ), substance abuse, poverty, diseases such as HIV and cancer also contribute to suicide thoughts or suicide attempt.

Gender Paradox in suicide

There are lots of gender differences as to suicide attempt and complete suicide. It is important we discuss this if we are want to reduce the higher rate of completed suicide in the United States and around the world each year.

Researchers have figured out that women are three to four times more likely to attempt suicide than men. According to the same research, men are about three times more likely to execute complete suicide than women.

Women are prone to psychological problems especially depression which can make them commit suicide. In western communities, women are about 20-40% higher than men in the total rate of mental health problems. This is why women are more likely to experience suicidal thoughts.

Also, according to a study conducted in 2010 by the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity (APM) in England, 19 percent of women and 14 percent of men are considered to committing suicide. This study also found out that estimated 7 percent of women and 4 percent of men would have made an attempt to kill themselves at some certain points in their lives.

A survey in the UK in 2012, figure out that 6000 people died by suicide. 25 percent (1500) of them were females and while males took the remaining percentage (75%). Also, according to a study conducted in the US in 2010, 38000 people were considered to have committed suicide of which 79 percent were men.

Why Are Men More Likely To Commit Suicide Than Women

So, if women are more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and attempt suicide due to the higher rate of suffering from psychological problems, why is it that men are more likely to die by suicide?

The method of suicide used is one of the most important reasons for the difference in the suicidal thoughts and complete suicide in both sexes.

According to a survey in the UK, 58 percent of male that committed complete suicide used a more violent method such as firearms while 36 percent of women. Poisoning such as overdosing was used by 43 percent of female suicide and 20 percent in men. A research was conducted in which most of the 15000 patients who were taken care of after a suicidal attempt were men. It also shows that men were likely to have used a lethal method than women. Men tend to use more lethal method while women are likely to use a less violent method.

Suicidal methods

Men: Men tends to use more lethal and violent methods such as:

1. Firearm

2. Hanging

3. Suffocation

4. Sharp objects

Women: They are likely to use less violent methods. Some are them are:

1. Drug poisoning

2. Exsanguination

3. Drowning

Researchers have shown that women are more likely to take other things, especially children into consideration which can distract her from completing the suicide.

Scientists have also figured out that men are generally more likely to have access or familiar with violent methods than women.

Why do suicidal methods differ by gender?

A survey of about 4450 patients in a hospital in Oxford has shown that men have higher levels of suicidal intent than women.

Another reason is impulsivity which is the tendency to act without proper thinking of the consequences.

However, researchers have shown that men are more likely to be impulsive than women. This makes them more likely to attempt a complete suicide. Although not all suicides are caused by impulsivity. But we all know that alcohol increases impulsivity and that it has been linked to suicide. Scientists have figured out that men are more likely to have drunk alcohol before they attempt suicide than women, this makes them not to give suicidal thoughts a second thought but to let go.

Causes For Increased Suicide Risk

The suicide rate has highly increased in the last decade. Suicide death is said to increase more than the death of people caused by a road accident. There are some factors that lead to the increase in suicide rate. They are environmental, sociocultural and biopsychosocial factors.

Biopsychosocial: This factor leads to the most suicide or its attempt. This is a situation whereby someone is suffering from one mental problem or medical problems such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, chronic diseases such as HIV and cancer and childhood trauma.

Environmental: It is said to have lead to the increasing suicide rate due to the stressful life events such as loss of life or job. Other causes are significant relationship breakup, harassment or physical abuse.

Sociocultural: When one is being isolated or not accepted by others can prompt the person for committing suicide. It has been the most sociocultural factors leading to the increasing rate of suicide. Other factors are lack of support and lack of mental health.

Sign And Symptoms Of Suicidal Behaviours

It is very difficult to identify someone who is having suicidal thoughts because we don't know what how or what a person is feeling inside of the person. However, there are some actions that such people show. They are:

Hopelessness: Such people do talk about it or feel hopeless.

** Self-harming**: people with suicidal thoughts do find a means of harming themselves such as getting a gun.

Avoidance of social interaction: They don't like to interact with people. They always isolate themselves trying not to be into an interaction with others

Sleeping too much or too little: They also find it difficult to sleep or sleep too much in order to relieve themselves from depression or isolation.

Lack of appetite to eat: They always lack the appetite to eat. They don't eat or eat little.

Will Making: They are likely to make their will or give always their properties.

Treatment For People Who Are At Risk For Suicide

Talk Therapy (CBT): This is one of the ways to reduce the risk of committing suicide. This treatment teaches people with suicidal thoughts how to cope with their stressful life events or emotions could make them think of taking their lives. This therapy can transform their pessimism to optimism and can make them regain their sense to control their life or hope.
Mediation: If talk therapy doesn't work then one need to go for medication. This is the use of certain drugs that can help to reduce the risk of committing suicide. Certain drugs such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs and antipsychotic drugs can be used to reduce the risk of taking one own life.

Others: One can also use some other treatments such as avoidance of alcohol, exercising regularly and sleeping well. All these can reduce the suicide risk.

Conclusion

People are likely to take their life when experiencing trauma or depression, or when suffering from mental disorders. This has been a controversial issue worldwide particularly in the US. However, there has been some preventive strategies put in place by the Department of Health and Human Services and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to reduce this problem in the US. We can also talk or comfort people who seem depressed and those with mental disorders. Interaction is said to be a wonderful antidepressant. This goes a long way in reducing the high rate of people committing suicide.

^{THANKS FOR READING...}

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References

^[1]Suicide

^[2]Suicidal Behaviour

^[3]Gender Paradox Ib Suicide

^[4]Differences in Suicide Methods Between Men and Women

^[5]Causes of Suicide

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