Essay on suicide
In my essay I will be writing about suicide and its effect on family and friends. Whether it should be allowed for someone to end their life.
Scottish statistics
Although there has been a 22 % decrease, over the years, suicide is still one of the biggest killers in Scotland. Men are more likely to commit suicide than women, Around three-quarters of all probable suicides are men: 76% and between 72% and 77% in every year since 1990. Strangely people who are older are also more likely to commit suicide (110, or 14%). The most common age band is 45-48 years. The most common ways that people commit suicide is hanging or strangulation or suffocation (45%)followed by ‘poison’ (31%). 8% killed themselves by jumping or falling from a high place and 6% by drowning. Only 1% used firearms or explosives. However, using the figures for 2013 on the old basis, there is a greater gap between the percentages for ‘hanging, strangulation and suffocation’ (47%) and ‘poison’ (27%). Methods of suicide have changed over the years: in the 1970s, over half took poison, on average only about 13% hanged themselves, and almost a fifth drowned. effects on family
Whether the family has lost a child or a parent to suicide, suicide takes a heavy toll on the remaining family members. When you lose a brother or a sister, you lose someone who shared many experiences and memories and who you may have expected to be with you for most of your life. Many siblings share a deep, protective connection. The death of parents could be very challenging on its own but even more so when they die by suicide. Grandparents are vulnerable to being hidden grievers, as much of the focus is on the partner or the parents – however the relationship is very close. You are likely to also be very concerned for your own children, the parents of the deceased and want to be supportive to them. Your own grief reaction may get overlooked. If you had a professional relationship with the person who died, particularly one of a caring nature, you may experience feelings of guilt, feeling that you let them down or that you could have done something different. Your confidence may be knocked and you may find it hard to work.
Global suicide statistics
In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is now among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 (male and female). Suicide attempts are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicides. Also suicide rates have traditionally been highest amongst elderly males, rates among young people have been increasing to such an extent that they are now the group at highest risk in a third of all countries. In Europe, particularly Eastern Europe, the highest suicide rates are reported for both men and women. Suicides globally by age are as follows: 55% are aged between 15 to 44 years and 45% are aged 45 years and over. Overall, suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death for all