Myths and Facts about Suicide
About ten in 100,000 people commit suicide in the UK. The highest suicide rate was in 2014, when 26 every 100,000 took their own lives. For many people, resorting to substance and alcohol abuse is their way to cope with their mental health problems. But some go to the extreme and choose to end their life. Even some of the famous people in the world, leaders and celebrities, who dealt with depression took suicide.
But even though it is a very common issue, many people don’t have enough understanding of suicide, including who’s at the greatest risk, why, and when they are most likely to commit it. Here are important facts behind some of the most common suicide and mental health myths:
Suicide rates are likely to peak during winter time.
There is such a thing as a peak season for suicides. But it’s not when most people think. Many believe that suicide rate is higher during the holidays. But statistics show that suicides are lowest in December and peak in the spring. Scientists are not sure why but they believe it has something to do with the changing levels of natural light. According to Marcia Valenstein, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan Depression Centre, US, it could be that people with mental health problems have more energy to commit suicide during this season. In fact, research has shown that suicide rates are 70% higher in elevated regions than those at sea level.
Younger people are likely to commit suicide.
Sure, teenagers committing suicide make headlines. But did you know that suicide is more common among older people? That’s right, especially among those who are 65 years or older. Nonetheless, teens remain to be a high-risk group. The latest figures from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) show middle-aged men are the most likely group to do commit suicide, the suicide rate among them having risen to its highest level since the early 1980s.
Depression is always the cause of suicide.
Many people who commit suicide tend to have suffered major depression. Actually, two of three people who commit suicide are depressed at such point in their life. Nonetheless, there are other reasons. Alcoholism, for instance, accounts for one in three completed suicides.
Poor countries have higher suicide rates.
It is a common notion that suicide rates are higher in poor countries. But actually, many rich countries tend to have more. For instance, 54 in every 100,000 men in Russia die of suicide. This can be partly blamed to high rate of alcoholism in the country.
Thankfully, help is always available. There are many ways to overcome depression and other mental health concerns that up the risk of suicide. Successful treatment of any underlying psychiatric disorder is very important and can prevent suicidal thoughts.
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