Across all mental disorders, depression carries the highest risk of suicide. Unfortunately, many cases of depression go untreated because of the high social stigma still attached to this mental disorder. Suicide is considered the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and the World Health Organization estimates that a life is lost to suicide every minute worldwide. It is also estimated that men take their lives almost four times the rate of women, accounting for around 79 percent of suicides in the U.S.
To understand suicide, it is also important to recognize the mindset that drives a person to want to take their life. There are many reasons why a person would consider suicide, but if is it an outcome of depression, then it can be prevented. Mental health practitioners report that over 90 percent of people who die by suicide suffer from clinical depression or another diagnosable (and treatable) mental disorder.
To understand suicide, it is also important to recognize the mindset that drives a person to want to take their life. There are many reasons why a person would consider suicide, but if is it an outcome of depression, then it can be prevented. Mental health practitioners report that over 90 percent of people who die by suicide suffer from clinical depression or another diagnosable (and treatable) mental disorder.
Depression is diagnosed if a person exhibits two or more symptoms outlined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) for more than two weeks. This includes feelings of worthlessness, changes in sleep patterns, changes in eating patterns, reduced sex drive, poor concentration and memory, among others. These may lead to thoughts of suicide. People who constantly talk about death and who make comments about being hopeless, helpless or worthless should be taken very seriously. A common mistake is believing these statements to be jokes, particularly if it is said by a teenager or someone who is considered to be full of angst.
Parents, caregivers, and friends should immediately report anyone they fear has a high potential for committing suicide.
Parents, caregivers, and friends should immediately report anyone they fear has a high potential for committing suicide.