History UsefulNotes / Suicide

* The infamous case of [[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=20020526&id=VOJPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0ggEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6973,4696794 Shawn Woolley]], the game addict who was (supposedly) driven to suicide by ''EverQuest''. In reality his mother drove him to it. Everybody just blamed ''EverQuest'' because [[NewMediaAreEvil it was more convenient]].

** Police involvement can raise the risk of violence. An unstable but nonviolent person can be killed or seriously injured by police perceiving a threat where there is none, and someone with the potential to become violent may be pushed over the edge by police involvement. This is because many police officers are not trained in nonviolent deescalation and may be unprepared to handle a psychological crisis or medical emergency, especially if the person who is ill or in crisis appears to pose a threat to the officers or others when in reality they do not. Police don't ''want'' a situation to turn violent, and they certainly don't want a suicidal person to die, but police involvement is not appropriate for most suicide attempts.

** At the same time, with ''some'' attempts, it ''is'' possible to get a person to a hospital without involving the police. This can be accomplished by ''not'' mentioning suicide in the emergency services call if the person isn't an active threat (e.g. overdoses, cutting when the cutting implement is no longer in reach/usable) but by explaining that it is an accident/ medical problem (and ''not'' requesting no police be sent, as this raises suspicions) and only mentioning that it was a suicide attempt once at the hospital. Or, if the person isn't in danger of immediate death (e.g. they've overdosed but are still awake and breathing, they cut across their wrists and the wrists are bandaged) to call a private medical transport or to drive them to the hospital yourself.
*** However, if the person is in serious medical condition, ''do not prioritize avoiding police involvement over their life.'' Do whatever it takes to get them to the hospital in time to save them.

*** However, if the person is in serious medical condition, ''do not prioritize avoiding police involvement over their life.'' Do whatever it takes to get them to the hospital in time to save them. If that means involving the police, so be it.

* Misconception: '''All suicidality is a result of an episode of mental illness, suicidal people are all "crazy" or "psychotic."''': This is one that is a case of HollywoodPsychology and generalization. While it is definitely true that psychosis is a frequent factor in suicide (note the high rate among untreated/badly treated schizophrenics, and mixed manic/depressed episodes in Bipolar 1 are close behind for it), ''many'' people attempt or even commit suicide simply because the pain of their life situation has exceeded their ability to cope with said pain, and many times this is a result of ''hyperrealistic'' pessimism or actual, real traumatizing events (including abuse, rape, the loss of loved ones, extreme financial loss and/or social ostracism), ''not'' loss of touch with reality. As said above, it ''is'' possible to be DrivenToSuicide, and even the SeenItAllSuicide out of sheer annoyance and boredom with life is possible. While there is some argument that clinical depression is a part of the inability to cope with pain, to fail to recognize and legitimize the suffering of victims who are in serious, legitimate pain for reasons ''outside their own mind'' often only makes the situation worse. This is especially true with those who are contemplating suicide for financial reasons, as mentioned above, because something as simple as keeping them from becoming homeless or providing them with a sufficiently paying job/unemployment assistance/food/needed medical care can itself end the feeling of hopelessness and save their lives.

* Misconception: '''calling police is always the solution.''' Calling authorities on someone or pressing a "suicide notify" button on a post is a last resort - which too many people take as the proper response. The only time one should call authorities is if there is a threat of harm to ''others'' involving the method of choice, or the person is actively violent toward anyone trying to help. If you have any sort of pre-existing friendship with the person threatening suicide (even being an acquaintance), it's generally better to try to talk to them and encourage them to talk to others, or to contact close friends of the person that can help. This is because:
** Police involvement, especially police involvement that ends badly, can shut off communication and encourage someone who needs, above all else, to talk and share and be open with their emotions to instead be so afraid of consequences from a law enforcement visit, that they [[PoorCommunicationKills close off communication]] and/or [[StepfordSmiler pretend happiness]] [[PoorCommunicationKills rather than openly communicating pain]]. ''You do not know'' if someone is being an AttentionWhore or if they actually need to talk.
** Not all police officers are understanding of suicide attempts and suicidality, especially among women and GLBTQIA people or with people they've had prior contacts with for suicide attempts. You may have an understanding cop answer the call; you may have the call answered by a cop who has never handled a suicidal person before, or who panics, or who does any number of things that can make the situation worse.
** Police involvement can raise the risk of violence. Someone unstable who is otherwise not violent may be mistaken for violent and killed or seriously injured by police perceiving a threat where there is none, and someone with the potential to become violent may be pushed over the edge by police involvement. This is because many police officers are not trained in nonviolent deescalation and may be unprepared to handle a psychological crisis or medical emergency, especially if the person who is ill or in crisis appears to pose a threat to the officers or others when in reality they do not. Police don't ''want'' a situation to turn violent, and they certainly don't want a suicidal person to die, but police involvement is not appropriate for most suicide attempts.

* Misconception: '''People even experiencing thoughts of suicide (much less attempting it) are dangerously violent.''' While suicide is the ultimate act of violence toward ''oneself,'' most people who consider or even attempt it are ''not'' homicidal toward others and never will be. In fact, the majority of suicide attempts are conducted in privacy/isolation both because the person is often alone/isolated, ''and'' does not want to harm anyone else with the attempt; ''and'' some attempters pick less lethal methods such as drugs or cutting for this very reason. If someone is expressing suicidal thoughts, ''don't treat them like they are dangerous or evil'' for doing so.

* Misconception: '''People even experiencing thoughts of suicide (much less attempting it) are dangerously violent.''' This is one of the absolute worst misconceptions of suicidal people there is (and has led to their being killed or gravely injured "for officer safety" by police officers, see above) as well as causing even well-meaning friends and family to avoid them fearing they will be the next mass murderer or the like. While suicide is the ultimate act of violence toward ''oneself,'' most people who consider or even attempt it are ''not'' homicidal toward others ''and never will be.'' In fact, the majority of suicide attempts are conducted in privacy/isolation both because the person is often alone/isolated, ''and'' does not want to harm anyone else with the attempt; ''and'' some attempters pick less likely to be successful methods such as drugs or cutting for this very reason. If someone is expressing suicidal thoughts, ''don't treat them like they are dangerous or evil'' for doing so.

* Misconception: '''There is nothing a person who is not a police officer, psychologist, or psychiatrist can do to prevent suicide.''' There ''are'' things a relatively untrained person (especially a friend or lover) can do ''before'' the point of "immediately lethal action" is reached if they are present. Those include making sure there are no firearms/sharp knives, razors, or other cutting implements/drugs or chemicals with a lethal overdose capacity/hanging methods accessible to the person (a quick look around the room should suffice at first), talking to and listening to the person ''as someone who cares about them,'' and providing distractions. As noted below, suicide is often an impulsive act, and if the impulse can be resisted, many such suicides can be prevented. Also, some people are ''far'' more willing to talk to and listen to a lover or friend than they are the police or a doctor, and there ''are'' ways of being there for someone and providing support for someone that aren't formal or the result of training but do help far more than professional help does. Finally, believing too much in this misconception leads people to isolate depressed or suicidal people in fear of them or their emotions, believing that they are only capable of being "handled" by professionals - which worsens depression and feelings of being removed from/dissociated from humanity.
** Removing access to firearms, especially, is ''very'' important. Guns are ''the'' most lethal and irreversible suicide method (shooting yourself in the head has less than a 10% chance of survival, and those who do survive are often left far more permanently physically damaged for the rest of their lives than people who overdose or cut) and many studies have shown their mere presence increases contemplation of suicide.

** This is especially important (so much so that laypeople obtaining some degree of at least suicide prevention "first aid" training is a viable strategy for preventing suicide) in communities that don't relate well to outsiders at all (military or emergency services veterans) or that generally see police and/or mental health professionals as adversarial forces of conformity and to whom some may actually be exactly that (among many others, urban poor or minorities, some LGBTQ people, sex workers, and some parts of the arts and music have this issue with police and sometimes therapists). While professionals may be the ideal, there ''are'' people who will be angered or frightened or silenced by professional involvement as opposed to gratefully receiving it, and nonprofessional help from their own community before a situation becomes immediately lethal is often the best chance they have at staying alive and/or getting professional help.
* Misconception: '''it is easy to tell when someone is suicidal.''' It has a basis in fact, as most people become unhappy before attempting suicide, but there are different ways of showing such an emotion and many are ''not'' thought as suicidal until someone discovers the body or takes them to the emergency room. This is due to the person believing their existence is unwanted, not revealing their emotions to be less of a burden to others, or denying their feelings in an attempt to make them go away. Finally, they may attempt to work through it themselves or be too proud to accept help, as it is "only in their head." They often force themselves to appear [[StepfordSmiler happy, amused]], or "normal," in which the only people who could tell the difference are close friends and family members--of which the vast majority do not have medical backgrounds, and thus don't have the training to deal with it appropriately. On the other side, those who ''do'' have family in the medical field may hide their symptoms because "a [[TheCobblersChildrenHaveNoShoes doctor/nurse/psychologist's kid shouldn't have any problems]]."

* Misconception: '''All suicides are planned for a long time.''' Many times, ''suicide is impulsive,'' especially in the severely traumatized, the bipolar, people for whom it is the result of a sudden traumatizing event such as rape or the loss of a loved one, and/or those who use drugs with a rush-crash pattern from alcohol to meth, and a viable strategy for preventing it is to get the person to wait out the impulse to commit suicide, with no judgment on their feelings but simply "running down the clock" and keeping them in a safe or safer environment while they are experiencing the impulse to die until it legitimately recedes, at least for the time being. For some of these persons (those suffering from trauma/PTSD and/or complicated grief), treatment itself involves making a suicide "emergency plan" or "safety plan" that relies on their seeking out people and things to help them get past the impulses, because ''nothing'' will entirely eradicate said impulses and a UsefulNotes/{{trigger}} can bring them back.

* Misconception: '''anyone who considers or attempts suicide is being selfish and cowardly.''' [[SuicideIsShameful This is a very pervasive stereotype]], but for obvious reasons, it's one of the most blatantly untrue ones. People attempt suicide for a variety of reasons, whether that's due to a long history of depression or recent traumas, and oftentimes people in the grip of depression who are considering suicide attempt it out of a desire for it "all to be over." The best way to help someone who's attempted or is about to attempt suicide is not to tell them they're being 'selfish' or 'inconsiderate', but to assist them in getting the help they need. Sometimes, the suicidal person will feel that they are burdening society with their existence and ''actually feels selfish for ''not'' killing themselves'' (in other words, they consider themselves to be TheLoad or even TheMillstone in relation to the rest of the world).

*** Also, if you are severely depressed (or alternately, in a manic or psychotic episode), while you may be pondering religious ideas or thoughts, you are likely not of a sound enough mind to choose a religion or belief system wisely. You should wait until you are in a better frame of mind. Many highly demanding or even outright abusive or fraudulent religious sects actively recruit mentally ill/troubled people. In such a state you ''are'' more vulnerable to making very bad decisions.

* Misconception: '''calling police is always the solution.''' Calling authorities on someone or pressing a "suicide notify" button on a post is a last resort - which too many people take as the proper response. The only time one should call authorities is if there is a threat of harm to ''others'' involving the method of choice, or the person is actively violent toward anyone trying to help. If you have any sort of pre-existing friendship with the person threatening suicide (even being an acquaintance), it's generally better to try to talk to them and encourage them to talk to others, or to contact close friends of the person that can help. The reasons why calling police on a suicidal person can be NiceJobBreakingItHero are below:
** Police involvement, especially police involvement that ends badly or the threat of police, can shut off communication and encourage someone who needs, above all else, to talk and share and be open with their emotions to instead be so afraid of consequences from a law enforcement visit, that they [[PoorCommunicationKills close off communication]] and/or [[StepfordSmiler pretend happiness]] [[PoorCommunicationKills rather than openly communicating pain]]. ''You do not know'' if someone is being an AttentionWhore or if they actually need to talk, and silencing helps no one.
** Not all police officers are understanding of suicide attempts and suicidality, especially among women and GLBTQIA people or with people they've had prior contacts with for suicide attempts. Having a cop come out and berate someone for being a drama queen or telling them they're better off dead will worsen the situation.
** Police involvement raises the risk of violence. Someone unstable who is otherwise not violent may be mistaken for violent and killed or seriously injured by police perceiving a threat where there is none, and someone who may potentially be violent but who can probably be kept from engaging in it may be pushed over the edge by police involvement. This is because many police officers are not trained in nonviolent deescalation and may be unprepared to handle a psychological crisis or medical emergency, especially if the person who is ill or in crisis appears to pose a threat to the officers or others when in reality they do not.

** Police involvement ''heavily'' raises the risk of violence. Someone unstable who is otherwise not violent may be mistaken for violent and killed or seriously injured by police perceiving a threat where there is none, and someone who may potentially be violent but who can probably be kept from engaging in it may be pushed over the edge by police involvement. In one two-week period in 2013, there were at least four cases of police shooting dead suicidal people who ''posed little or no threat'' to the officers' lives, and [[https://www.google.com/search?q=police+brutality+against+mentally+ill&oq=police+violence+against+mentally+ill&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0.7804j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8 the trend shows no means of ending]]. This is because many police officers are not trained in nonviolent deescalation or in the proper ways to handle a psychological crisis or medical emergency, especially if the person who is ill or in crisis appears to pose a threat to the officers or others when in reality they do not.

** Police involvement ''heavily'' raises the risk of violence. Someone unstable who is otherwise not violent may be mistaken for violent and killed or seriously injured by police feeling threatened, and someone who may potentially be violent but who can probably be kept from engaging in it may be pushed over the edge by police involvement. In one two-week period in 2013, there were at least four cases of police shooting dead suicidal people who ''posed little or no threat'' to the officers' lives (e.g. the "weapons" they had would have at most bruised or scratched an officer in proper gear if even that), and [[https://www.google.com/search?q=police+brutality+against+mentally+ill&oq=police+violence+against+mentally+ill&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0.7804j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8 the trend shows no means of ending]]. This is because ''many'' police officers are trained to [[StopOrIWillShoot force compliance to their orders with violence]] ''and'' are not trained in nonviolent deescalation or in the proper ways to handle a psychological crisis or medical emergency, especially if the person who is ill or in crisis appears to pose a threat to the officers or others when in reality they do not.
** Police will investigate/arrest for any "criminal activity" going on in many cases. This may include simply having a bag of marijuana around them or unpaid traffic warrants - so police involvement can leave someone with a lasting criminal record and its repercussions for the rest of their life. Worse, the police may even arrest someone for merely having the tool of their suicide attempt, if it is a gun or certain drugs.

** Police involvement ''heavily'' raises the risk of violence. Someone unstable who is otherwise not violent may be mistaken for violent and killed or seriously injured by police feeling threatened, and someone who may potentially be violent but who can probably be kept from engaging in it may be pushed over the edge by police involvement. In one two-week period in 2013, there were at least four cases of police shooting dead suicidal people who ''posed little or no threat'' to the officers' lives (e.g. the "weapons" they had would have at most bruised or scratched an officer in proper gear if even that), and [[https://www.google.com/search?q=police+brutality+against+mentally+ill&oq=police+violence+against+mentally+ill&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0.7804j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8 the trend shows no means of ending]]. This is because ''many'' police officers are trained to [[StopOrIWillShoot force compliance to their orders with violence]] ''and'' are not trained in nonviolent deescalation or in the proper ways to handle a psychological crisis or medical emergency, especially if the person who is ill or in crisis doesn't immediately obey them and respect their authority. In essence, they believe that ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer when it in fact is not.

* Misconception: '''Men are serious when they attempt suicide, but women are only doing it for attention or as a cry for help.''' Every single suicide due to depression is a cry for help. The truth is that, for a variety of reasons ([[TelevisionIsTryingToKillUs media portrayal]] of attempts by each gender for one, differing ease of access to the violent methods is another), men tend to use more violent methods of suicide such as firearms or carbon monoxide poisoning - methods that are likely to be successful, while women tend to use drugs or knives - methods that are much less likely to be successful. Unfortunately, the belief that men are serious while women are only looking for attention can be found in some older professional handbooks, and has led many to think that a man who attempts suicide is worthy of assistance, while a woman who attempts suicide is just an over-emotional attention whore who needs to be ignored or belittled so she "doesn't learn from the attention to do it again". (It is true that women attempt suicide more often than men but men succeed more often, but it's not necessarily 100 women attempting suicide once to every 20 men who attempt suicide once: it's quite possibly 20 women attempting suicide five times each for every 20 men who attempt suicide once.)

** Police involvement, especially police involvement that ends badly or the threat of police, can shut off communication and encourage someone who needs, above all else, to talk and share and be open with their emotions to instead be so afraid of consequences from a law enforcement visit, that they close off communication and/or pretend happiness rather than openly communicating pain. ''You do not know'' if someone is being an AttentionWhore or if they actually need to talk, and silencing helps no one.

** Police involvement ''heavily'' raises the risk of violence. Someone unstable who is otherwise not violent may be mistaken for violent and killed or seriously injured by police feeling threatened, and someone who may potentially be violent but who can probably be kept from engaging in it may be pushed over the edge by police involvement. In one two-week period in 2013, there were at least four cases of police shooting dead suicidal people who ''posed little or no threat'' to the officers' lives (e.g. the "weapons" they had would have at most bruised or scratched an officer in proper gear if even that), and [[https://www.google.com/search?q=police+brutality+against+mentally+ill&oq=police+violence+against+mentally+ill&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0.7804j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8 the trend shows no means of ending]]. This is because ''many'' police officers are trained to force compliance to their orders with violence ''and'' are not trained in nonviolent deescalation or in the proper ways to handle a psychological crisis or medical emergency, especially if the person who is ill or in crisis doesn't immediately obey them and respect their authority.

** Regardless of the above: If someone is an ''immediate'' danger to themselves, calling 9-1-1 (or whatever your local emergency number is) '''is''' the proper course of action. Don't get the idea in your head that you can, without any training, "talk someone down" or restrain them to keep them from harming themselves if they're committed to the act. The general rule is: if they're talking about suicide, talk to them; If they're taking immediately lethal action, you need to notify emergency services ASAP.

** As an addenda to this, pretty much the only time suicidal people are dangerous to anyone ''but'' themselves is if they express interest in [[TakingYouWithMe murder-suicide as revenge[=/=]TakingYouWithMe]][=/=]SuicideByCop or the like and pursue such plans, if they choose a method that is guaranteed to hurt/kill others, have stated that they will harm anyone who attempts to stop them (and you know them well enough to have good reason to believe that they are not bluffing), or ''if'' they are armed with a weapon such as a gun or long knife/sword ''and'' interrupted mid-attempt with someone violently trying to take the weapon away.

* Misconception: '''Suicidality consists of a defined attempt using a usual method.''' Especially for both the chronically mentally ill and even more so for the severely traumatized, many times, there may not even ''be'' a specific intent or attempt. Instead, a pattern develops of simply "giving up on life" or "not caring if one lives or dies," which can manifest in everything from unsafe sex and sexual practices (e.g. unprotected casual sex, EroticAsphyxiation or other "edge play" without a SafeWord or in bad condition) to dangerous use of drugs and substances (e.g. drinking until blackout drunk and becoming TheAlcoholic, intentionally going near overdose range, using dirty needles, etc) to unsafe and dangerous driving or work practices. Suicidal self-harmers will sometimes abandon caution while self-harming (e.g. not caring if the cut goes too deep), suicidal people with eating disorders may find it harder to stop because there is no "Oh no, I can die" factor preventing them, and suicidal alcoholics or drug users may not care that they're overdosing or becoming ill. Suicidality is, for these persons, a ''spectrum,'' of safe and healthy (or at the very least harm-reducing and responsible) behavior to acts that may or even are likely to result in serious injury or death. This in combination with suicide on impulse (mentioned above) is how accidental suicide happens - people who don't care whether they live or die taking risks that have a large chance of death.

* Misconception: '''anyone who considers or attempts suicide is being selfish and cowardly.''' [[SuicideIsShameful This is a very pervasive stereotype]], but for obvious reasons, it's one of the most blatantly untrue ones. People attempt suicide for a variety of reasons, whether that's due to a long history of depression or recent traumas, and oftentimes people in the grip of depression who are considering suicide attempt it out of a desire for it "all to be over." The best way to help someone who's attempted or is about to attempt suicide is not to tell them they're being 'selfish' or 'inconsiderate', but to assist them in getting the help they need. Sometimes, the suicidal person will feel that they are burdening society with their existence and ''actually feels selfish for not killing themselves''.
** The ''inverse'' is sometimes the case. People who survive or intentionally botch their suicide won't always be happy at first. Some may in fact feel worse, because either [[DeathSeeker they couldn't even manage to DIE properly]], they feel like they've been cheated out of relief, or they feel they "chickened out" and have now burdened their loved ones with financial and emotional stress--the exact thing they wanted to avoid. It is a ''very'' twisted form of SurvivorGuilt that is often confusing for loved ones to deal with.

* Misconception: '''If someone isn't serious about suicide, they likely won't commit it.''' This ties into both the aforementioned misconception about suicide notes, the one that teens aren't really serious, and in general the (false) idea that most suicide is not an impulsive act. Accidental suicide doesn't require intent at all - simply ambivalence or not caring as to whether one lives or dies. Most suicides are impulsive, with survivors reporting regretting attempts [[HappilyFailedSuicide almost as soon as they were underway]]. Finally, even some "joke suicides" such as someone engaging in an action likely to cause death on a dare/as a joke have "[[GoneHorriblyRight succeeded]]," as a short browse of the DarwinAwards will show.
* Misconception: '''medication and/or hospitalization alone will fix it.''' Unfortunately, too many people have this view of mental illness (especially depression) as something people just need to "snap out of," or something that can be "fixed." While medication and hospitalization can help some, there are some caveats to believing both are some sort of instantly effective cures for depression.

** Hospitalization (''especially'' forced hospitalization and in some contexts, especially where abuse has been a part of the depression and especially if the abusers insisted on the hospitalization as punitive, or hospitalization in a context of labeling and shaming or forced treatment) can be a traumatic, painful experience itself. While modern-day mental hospitals are NOT generally what would be found in OneFlewOverTheCuckoosNest or such, not every professional employed by one is necessarily understanding. The "psychiatric survivor" and "mental health consumer" movements have some very good commentary on this - in short, forced hospitalization should be a very last resort much as calling the authorities should be, and do the research to find a hospital where patients are treated with kindness and respect.
** Related, a ''bad'' therapist is worse than NO therapist. A therapist who is highly judgmental or commanding, one whose goal is to make someone "behave" or make them "normal," one who has little or no experience with the actual problems their patient has and sees them as a DSM category rather than a human being in legitimate pain, one who is beholden to a religion/method/seminar/similar, one who is very heteronormative in dealing with an LGBTQ person... all of the above are just a few ways a therapist can have very bad effects and make someone angry or fearful and possibly ''refuse to seek professional help ever again.''
** Co-morbid depression originating from abuse, grief, and/or PTSD is very difficult to ''treat'' much less cure, because the space between "correcting chemical imbalance" and dealing with legitimate emotions from a horrifyingly traumatic experience is very difficult to define. That doesn't mean recovery is impossible - it just means it is very long, mostly from talk therapy, and that most (currently legal) medication's utility is limited because SSRIs can cure any existing chemical imbalances - but not make painful experiences or memories any less so.

*** Sometimes, total sobriety is sometimes a ''bad'' idea for suicide prevention - if the depression is ''due'' to a problem with endorphin production for example, your treatment ''itself'' may include "drugs" such as cannabis or even an opiate (of course, prescribed by your treating doctor) to ''properly'' treat it. With trauma/grief induced depression or suicidality, impulse distraction may involve getting drunk or high enough to forget that one wants to die right now - and while that's not good, it's a better choice than suicide. PTSD or complicated grief sufferers sometimes use cannabis for this reason to deal with trigger-induced suicidal impulses - unlike alcohol or even some prescribed meds, the lethal dose is almost impossible to achieve, and combined with a safe environment, getting stoned ensures safety. For these people, trying to deal with said impulses sober is more likely to result in suicide.

** Positive thoughts and "faith" and manifestation ''CANNOT'' fix suicidal depression. A suicidally depressed person ''physically cannot'' maintain positive thinking, especially in the absence of anything realistic to be positive or happy about, as such things as "The Secret" and prosperity faith healers demand that one do. This does not make them a bad or evil person or a "black hole of negativity". It is simply part of the pain they are suffering. To tell people that if only they could think positively all their problems would be solved and they'd be able to manifest a new boyfriend, millions of dollars in the bank and perfect health (among other things) is offensive and can be triggering and suicide-inducing if they believe it (leading them to blame and hate themselves and feel guilty that they can't do it or can't maintain it in the face of no proof of improvement). It's the equivalent of telling someone with major injuries from a car accident or fall to just get up and go run the Ironman Triathalon and believe they weren't ever hurt in the first place.

[[AC: Signs and Symptoms of Depression and/or Suicidal Thoughts ]]

[[AC: And one more note...]]

* More intelligent animals, such as dogs, cats, monkeys, and apes, have been known to be driven to suicide by the loss of a master, mate, or companion, either passively by starvation and dehydration, or actively by jumping off a precipice or lying in front of oncoming traffic. Of course, the same behavior sometimes happens in some ''humans'' who lose a spouse or lover or close friend or even someone they just deeply care about - there is a reason that recent or very painful loss or grief is mentioned as a reason for (especially impulsive) suicide above. Whether it is a pathological mental illness or a legitimate (if not ''good'') reaction to some of the most horrific pain anyone can experience is a matter of [[FlameWar intense debate.]]

** It's possible that the one fatality of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Tubby the spaniel, committed suicide - he rejected a rescue team, and attacked them when they tried to save him by force.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing Alan Turing]] was a man key in decoding the Enigma machines in WorldWarII, and who even invented the first electronic computer to do so. Accidentally outed as gay when he reported a liaison who tried to burgle his house, Turing was found guilty of "gross indecency", and reluctantly chose chemical castration by hormone treatment over prison. Despite retaining his freedom, Turing was also fired and barred from the university where he worked, and his hormone "treatment" probably lead to his depression and weight gain. Infamously, Turing soon killed himself by eating an apple containing cyanide compounds he used in his work, possibly to make it plausible to his mother that his death was accidental.
** Recently questioned by modern historians. The death may have been accidental. Turing had a home chemistry lab where he could conceivably have gotten into cyanide by accident, and the apple was never tested.

* In a pretty horrific example, Mitchell Henderson became an infamous [[MemeticMutation meme]] ("an hero") by committing suicide... after which trolls made up the idea that he did so because his iPod was stolen.

** Also has spread to the internet in places like [=MySpace=], where some people are hounded and tormented by other people to the point where they announce their plans to kill themselves and their tormentors ''cheer them on''. There has been one case that made the news where a teenage girl named Megan Meier was harassed over and over again over a personal issue in her life and she killed herself. It was revealed that the tormentor was an adult woman who knew the girl in person and didn't like her. There are [[MoralEventHorizon no words]].

* 08357 90 90 90 The Samaritans, UK

* Creator/RobinWilliams took his own life after a long struggle with depression and alcoholism. Humor website ''Website/{{Cracked}}'' [[http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/robin-williams-why-funny-people-kill-themselves/ observed]] that [[SadClown depression is extremely common among comedians]], and revealed that they monitor their blog comments for indications of suicidal tendencies [[YouAreNotAlone so they can offer support and encouragement]].

** That said, going too far in the other direction and assuming that suicidality is only out of a known biological mental illness is also a huge misconception and mistake. It IS possible to be DrivenToSuicide, especially in situations involving UsefulNotes/{{Abuse}} to the point where the abuse (especially emotional abuse) has entirely destroyed someone's self-concept or taken away their will to live. Do not immediately assume that a suicidal person's family or religious organization is somehow always "on their side" or "trying to save them from themselves" - these are two groups that ''can'' and sometimes ''do'' inflict such pervasive emotional abuse. Also, some people with no or only mild apparent previous mental illness ''can'' be DrivenToSuicide by a sudden tragedy - sudden loss of a meaningful person such as a relative or spouse/lover to death and severe financial loss are two huge risk factors. [[note]] There is actually a strong connection between economic recessions/depressions/austerity and suicides, one ''not'' explained by the lack of or postponement of seeking mental health services during such - financial loss ''itself'' is the suicide-inspiring factor.[[/note]]

* Ex-HotScoop [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_Chubbuck Christine "Chris" Chubbuck]] committed suicide by shooting herself ''on the air'' in TheSeventies. The damage wasn't nearly as severe as [[YourHeadASplode head explosions]] or PinkMist, as those in the studio thought [[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt it was]] [[DudeNotFunny a tasteless prank]]... until they realized it wasn't. Poor Christine died some hours later.

* [[http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/09/29/Sex_Video_Drives_Rutgers_Freshman_to_Suicide This story]] of a student who committed suicide after being outed as gay due to a [[DeadlyPrank prank]].

* Ian Curtis of JoyDivision hung himself, due most likely to his collapsing marriage and bouts of severe epilepsy, combined with pre-existing depression.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Adolf_Hitler#Suicide Perhaps the only time to win an argument by using]] GodwinsLaw.
* The award-winning photojournalist Kevin Carter (who was the subject of the ManicStreetPreachers song of the same name) killed himself due to the many [[HumansAreBastards horrific things]] he had [[CreatorBreakdown seen and photographed]] over the years.

** John Berryman, another poet, who killed himself by jumping off the Washington Avenue Bridge onto the west bank of the Mississippi River. As NickCave put it:

** Police involvement ''heavily'' raises the risk of violence. Someone unstable who is otherwise not violent may be mistaken for violent and killed or seriously injured by police feeling threatened. In one two-week period in 2013, there were at least four cases of police shooting dead suicidal people who ''posed little or no threat'' to the officers' lives (e.g. the "weapons" they had would have at most bruised or scratched an officer in proper gear if even that), and [[https://www.google.com/search?q=police+brutality+against+mentally+ill&oq=police+violence+against+mentally+ill&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0.7804j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8 the trend shows no means of ending]]. This is because ''many'' police officers are trained to force compliance to their orders with violence ''and'' are not trained in nonviolent deescalation or in the proper ways to handle a psychological crisis or medical emergency, especially if the person who is ill or in crisis doesn't immediately obey them and respect their authority.

** As an addenda to this, pretty much the only time suicidal people are dangerous to anyone ''but'' themselves is if they express interest in [[TakingYouWithMe murder-suicide as revenge[=/=]TakingYouWithMe]][=/=]SuicideByCop or the like and pursue such plans, if they choose a method that is guaranteed to hurt/kill others, have stated that they will harm anyone who attempts to stop them, or ''if'' they are armed with a weapon such as a gun or long knife/sword ''and'' interrupted mid-attempt with someone violently trying to take the weapon away.

Despite [[SuicideAsComedy what many works may lead you to believe]], suicide is a serious and extremely sensitive topic even with teenagers. Helping the suicidal is hard to do since many have little to no knowledge of psychology. The warning signs are [[GoodbyeCruelWorld much more nuanced]] and [[DrivenToSuicide variable]] than what the media portrays. The pervasive mishandling of the issue, especially by Hollywood, leads to many deaths that could have been prevented if the proper measures had been taken. However, this page is not the end-all guide to diagnosis: This will merely debunk the common misconceptions surrounding suicide, as well as shed light on the reasons for them.

* The creator of the webcomic Webcomic/SexyLosers has chronic depression. His most recent webcomic, [[http://depressioncomix.tumblr.com/ Depression Comix]], depicts his personal experiences of what it's like to live with depression, including self-harm and thoughts of suicide.

Despite [[SuicideAsComedy what many works may lead you to believe]], suicide is a serious and extremely sensitive topic even with teenagers. Helping the suicidal is hard to do since many have little to no knowledge of psychology, and the warning signs are [[GoodbyeCruelWorld much more nuanced]] and [[DrivenToSuicide variable]] than what the media portrays. The pervasive mishandling of the issue, especially by Hollywood, leads to many deaths that could have been prevented if the proper measures had been taken. However, this page is not the end-all guide to diagnosis: This will merely debunk the common misconceptions surrounding suicide, as well as shed light on the reasons for them.

But even in Western societies, the stigma around depression is such that sufferers will ''not'' ask for help immediately; occasionally, they will even insist that they feel normal and [[DontYouDarePityMe refuse help if offered]]. Constantly refusing help despite evidence that they need it is as much of a warning sign as asking for it: If someone suspects that their friend or loved one is feeling any sort of distress, they should keep offering help no matter how often the person refuses. It is ''extremely'' important that family and friends remain as supportive as possible, because the person is already under considerable mental stress--giving up on them may reinforce or even cause feelings of worthlessness, and suicide may be more likely than if they'd never gotten help in the first place.

* Misconception: '''Depressed or suicidal people must be living wrong, getting religion/getting sober/committing to a natural lifestyle/manifesting positive thoughts will fix it!''' This is one of the most damaging and often suicide-inspiring misconceptions of depression there is (because it makes the guilt and self-blame a depression sufferer already has far worse to believe that their suffering is their own fault), and it's also one that can lead people suffering from depression to make life choices that at best do nothing and at worst destroy their lives with no benefit.
** People of ''any and all religions'' suffer abuse, depression, anxiety, bipolar, loss/trauma, and/or other reasons to feel suicidal. ''No'' religious belief is a cure for depression or anxiety (or any other illness) in and of itself, especially when the cause of depression or anxiety is entirely biochemical or hormonal or the like. While religious belief and prayer ''does'' have some positive effect on depression or anxiety for ''some'' believers, and religious groups ''can'' provide needed social support, some religious groups can also inflict such pervasive emotional and/or financial abuse that they worsen or even cause depression and suicide, can drive people (especially those who are LGBTQ) to believe they are "sinful" and "evil" or "not doing enough," or add a religious element to the depression/suicidality such as "God hates me" or "I deserve hell." Religious belief ''can'' be helpful to those who already have it and/or who are seeking it for the reasons of prayer/meditation/ritual being comforting and social support via meetings/assemblies/etcetera, but it isn't a cure-all, can make things worse, and having depression doesn't mean you're unspiritual or a "sinner" or lack faith. Also, if a religious group offers to heal your mind but ''requires'' or insists on increasingly large financial donations to help you, this is a red flag of something that ''can'' drive people to suicide and definitely won't help.
*** Also, if you are severely depressed (or alternately, in a manic or psychotic episode), while you may be pondering religious ideas or thoughts, you are likely not of a sound enough mind to choose a religion or belief system wisely, and should wait until you are in a better frame of mind. Many highly demanding/outright abusive or fraudulent religious sects actively recruit mentally ill/mentally troubled people, and in such a state you ''are'' more vulnerable to making very bad decisions.

** Despite what the GranolaGirl and AllNaturalSnakeOil provider will tell you, committing to a more natural lifestyle is also not an instant depression cure. While exercise ''is'' a valuable tool for depression and anxiety relief (studies have proven exercise is as valuable as SSRI antidepressants to overcoming depression), and sunshine (unless you suffer from porphyria) and fresh air and a good diet etcetera will make you feel better, none are cure-alls, some parts of the "more natural lifestyle" can become just as bad at guilt-inducing as religion, by making you feel guilty for "not doing enough" or "not being natural enough," and moving to a farm or collective or isolated location might worsen depression or anxiety via isolation and financial restriction, and possibly provide better access to firearms, dangerous machinery, or poisons. If you are so depressed you are suicidal, "going natural" won't, in and of itself, fix it.
** Positive thoughts and "faith" and manifestation ''CANNOT'' fix suicidal depression, because a suicidally depressed person ''physically cannot'' maintain positive thinking, especially in the absence of anything realistic to be positive or happy about, as such things as "The Secret" and prosperity faith healers demand that one do. This does not make them a bad or evil person, a "black hole of negativity," it is simply part of the pain they are suffering, and to tell people that if only they could think positively all their problems would be solved and they'd be able to manifest a new boyfriend, millions of dollars in the bank, and perfect health (among other things) is offensive and can be triggering and suicide-inducing if they believe it (and therefore blame themselves and hate themselves and feel guilty that they can't, or can't maintain it in the face of no proof of improvement). It's the equivalent of telling someone with major injuries from a car accident or fall to just get up and go run the Ironman Triathalon and believe they weren't ever hurt in the first place.
*** If preventing suicide was as easy as "thinking positively," and "having faith," bipolar 1 manic episodes would have ''zero'' suicide risk - as opposed to the ''increased'' risk of suicide that they actually have. Persons who are manic are definitely thinking positively and having faith (in fact, ''too much'' of both - it's called "grandiosity" and a "feeling of invincibility"), ''so much'' that it is out of touch with reality and that they are likely to commit accidental suicide by taking risks that have a large chance of death (e.g. believing they can walk on a freeway without being hit by cars, using firearms with no regard for [[UsefulNotes/GunSafety safe practices]], believing they are truly physically invincible or simply not thinking of how risky an activity is until they are already risking their life).

* '''Changes in consumption of alcohol, recreational drugs, work hours, and/or forms of escapism.''' This is a more recently recognized sign, and one that appears to be more common among adult athletes, entertainers, musicians, doctors, lawyers and law enforcement, high-level business and finance workers, and others who live high-stress and yet relatively high income and high access to any or all of said options for escape. Much like overeating and under eating and oversleeping and insomnia, either side of the coin can be present. for example, one depressed / suicidal musician might lock himself in his studio and work nonstop using work to avoid the pain, and another who used to work nearly nonstop might suddenly quit and do no work at all. Or a lawyer who drank relatively little to begin with might go OffTheWagon, or alternately, a lawyer known for heavy drinking suddenly goes sober and begins self-recrimination as a part of "recovery." The key here is major changes ''either way'' that are either not connected to any apparent reason ''or'' that are tied to an obvious triggering event.

It should be noted that a great deal of depression and suicide involves appearances and (often) self-imposed pressures: Depression stems from both an inability to express emotions and the underlying, if warped, desire to protect their loved ones from such "unsafe" or "wrong" emotions. The major issue during therapy is that the ''person'' accepts that they have a problem, that they need help, and that the steps for returning to normal will not happen right away. Generally, a good therapist will help their client figure most of it out by themselves instead of trying to set deadlines or goals for them. This is also why therapy is overwhelmingly one-on-one or in groups of fellow sufferers, rather than with family members or friends--the emotional involvement would impede the person's progress for a number of reasons.

** Conversely, a sudden lift in a depressed person's spirits does ''not'' necessarily mean they've "gotten over it" and are starting to recover. Paradoxically, some seriously depressed people will actually feel ''better'' just before attempting suicide. This is because they've finally figured out a way to escape their angst, and are therefore feeling hopeful for the first time in ages.

* Kurt Cobain of {{Nirvana}} shot himself at his home. Surrounded by ConspiracyTheories that he was murdered mostly based around some of the misconceptions outlined above. Notably that a note found with his body "doesn't read like a suicide note" even though it is a long rambling apology to his fans for his apathy towards his success and his shame at not appreciating them.

* The death of Justin Lowe of After the Burial fame may have been this, or it may have merely been an accidental fall. In either case, he had apparently had a mix of mental illness, drug usage, high levels of stress, and general frustration with life brewing for quite a while that eventually manifested as a full-on (and very public) psychotic breakdown on Facebook, where he posted a lengthy, rambling story about what appeared to be a conspiracy involving his bandmates, Sumerian Records, and a large portion of the people in his life seeking to ruin him. After being placed in the care of his family, Lowe vanished sometime around July 20, 2015, and while his car was found abandoned in a parking lot near the Minnesota half of the Arcola High Bridge, he was not found until the day after, when a hiker found a body that was determined to be his. The death was ruled to be consistent with a fall, but authorities were not able to determine whether it was accidental or intentional. On one hand, he was clearly not in his right mind and may have acted with a total disregard for caution that led to his fall; on the other hand, the Arcola High Bridge is a notorious suicide spot and his breakdown indicated that he believed that he was going to get the bottom of the supposed conspiracy, and being released to the care of his family may have constituted an ultimate failure for him that spurred him to take his own life.

The first scientific study, and indeed the [[UnbuiltTrope first sociological study]], ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_(book) Suicide]]'', was written by Émile Durckheim in 1896, studying suicide among different religions and social classes and finding, among other, suicide less common among Catholic, Jews, those with few education and civilians than soldiers, Scandinavians, singles and soldiers.

** Cetaceans are voluntary breathers. They can decide to end their lives at any time by just not taking that next breath. Ric O'Barry holds that this was the case with Kathy, the dolphin who usually played {{Flipper}}.

** As an addenda to this, pretty much the only time suicidal people are dangerous to anyone ''but'' themselves is if they express interest in [[TakingYouWithMe murder-suicide as revenge[=/=]TakingYouWithMe]][=/=]SuicideByCop or the like and pursue such plans, if they choose a method that is guaranteed to hurt/kill others, or ''if'' they are armed with a weapon such as a gun or long knife/sword ''and'' interrupted mid-attempt with someone violently trying to take the weapon away.

* '''Sudden loss of care for dangerous activities, beyond that possibly explained by apathy or experience.''' Someone may begin driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving far more recklessly or at higher speeds than usual, act out in "road rage," get into repeated or serious non-fatal vehicle accidents or otherwise become an outright dangerous driver. Someone may overwork or work in a dangerous manner (e.g. removing protective equipment or ignoring safety precautions, especially when doing so could lead to death or serious injury, working until the point of physical collapse from lack of sleep or pain). Someone may suddenly take up risky or dangerous hobbies, or, if they previously rode dirt bikes or skydived or chased storms for example, ignoring their usual safety precautions while doing so, or may allow a previously controlled illness from diabetes to an eating disorder to get out of control, and it can also overlap with the symptom below. The key here is that while people tend to become more lax on safety the more they do something due to apathy and familiarity, the changes are more obvious than that and persistent - it is someone who consistently acts in a manner that hints at "not caring about living or dying."

Despite [[SuicideAsComedy what many works may lead you to believe]], suicide is a serious and extremely sensitive topic even with teenagers--the trouble is sorting out the hormonal and {{Wangst}}-ridden teens from the ones who are genuinely suffering. This can be hard to do since many have little to no knowledge of psychology, and the warning signs are [[GoodbyeCruelWorld much more nuanced]] and [[DrivenToSuicide variable]] than what the media portrays. The pervasive mishandling of the issue, especially by Hollywood, leads to many deaths that could have been prevented if the proper measures had been taken. However, this page is not the end-all guide to diagnosis: This will merely debunk the common misconceptions surrounding suicide, as well as shed light on the reasons for them.

* Scandinavians in general do have alarmingly high suicide rate. Given to [[GrimUpNorth hostile climate]], long and dark winters and Scandinavians' high average IQ (Emile Durkheim showed [http://www.suicideireland.com/2010110153/General/suicide-overview/All-Pages.html high intelligence ''increases'' the risk of suicide)], no personal bankrupt laws and work culture which does not tolerate failure, it is no surprise. Suicide is usually considered as "just another way to die" in Scandinavia.