REUTERS ILLUSTRATION: OWEN GENTA background of stressful life events may predispose people to suicidal thoughts.
Some other factors that may contribute to people becoming suicidal are:(^2) Physical health
problems
Nearly all physical
health problems
are associated with
increased suicide
risk. Suicide is
twice as prevalent
among those
who have cancer
as those in the
general population,
and men with
cancers that affect
the genitourinary
system, such as
prostate cancer,
may be five times
more likely to take
their own lives.
(^1) Mental health
problems
Around 90% of
those who take
their own lives
have experienced
a mental illness,
most commonly
depression.
However, the
overwhelming
majority of people
with depression
don’t kill
themselves.
(^3) Unhappy
relationships
Research shows
a link between
relationship
breakdown and
suicide risk.
According to
Samaritans, divorce
is more likely to
lead men, rather
than women,
to suicide. But
research at the
Medical University
of Vienna suggests
those in unhappy
relationships may
be at even greater
risk.
(^6) Availability
of lethal means
Availability of guns
is particularly
important in
determining male
rates of suicide in
the United States:
a new study shows
that gun ownership
explains 71% of the
variations in male
suicide rates from
state to state.
(^4) Austerity
Evidence of the
link between
financial worries
and suicide has
been strengthened
by new research
indicating that
suicides in young
men rise notably in
countries suffering
from economic
crisis where job
losses are high.
One study found
that every 1% fall in
GDP growth sees a
0.9% rise in suicide
rates.
(^5) Screen time
The more time
teenagers spend
on smartphones
and other electronic
screens, the more
likely they are to
feel depressed
and think about
suicide, according
to a new study
from the University
of Florida. People
under 25 who
are victims of
cyberbullying have
been reported to
be twice as likely to
self-harm and have
suicidal behaviours.
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