Suicide is death caused by injuring oneself with the intent to die. A suicide attempt is when someone harms themselves with any intent to end their life, but they do not die as a result of their actions.
Many factors can increase the risk for suicide or protect against it. Suicide is connected to other forms of injury and violence. For example, people who have experienced violence, including child abuse, bullying, or sexual violence have a higher suicide risk.
Suicide is a leading cause of death in most countries. The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. In 2020, more than 3% of adults seriously thought about suicide, 1% planned a suicide attempt, and 0.3% attempted suicide.
Suicide affects all ages. In 2020, suicide was among the top 9 leading causes of death for people ages 10-64. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 25-34.
Suicide and suicide attempts affect the health and well-being of friends, loved ones, co-workers, and the community. When people die by suicide, their surviving family and friends may experience shock, anger, guilt, symptoms of depression or anxiety, and may even experience thoughts of suicide themselves.
The financial toll of suicide on society is also costly. In 2019, suicide and nonfatal self-harm cost the world nearly 2.5% of World's GDP in medical costs, work loss costs, value of statistical life, and quality of life costs.
It should be noted that not marginals end their lives by suicide. Among them there are also heads of the world's largest enterprises, scientists and doctors. The losses of such valuable members of society cannot be measured with money.
Are there any of your relatives, acquaintances, friends or colleagues who have committed suicide?
Is this, in your opinion, an important and growing problem and how do you think it can be solved?