Abnormal Psychology

Mood Disorders and Suicide 233

both those with and without disorders—has at some point had suicidal thoughts

(Weissman, Bland, et al., 1999). One study found that 6% of people who were

healthy and had never been depressed occasionally thought about suicide (Farmer

et al., 2001). Suicidal thoughts may range from believing that others would be better

off if the person were dead (which Jamison had) to vague ideas of dying by suicide

to specifi c plans to commit suicide.

Approximately 30% of those who have thoughts of suicide have also conceived

of a plan (Kessler, Borges, & Walters, 1999). Even having a plan, though, does not

by itself indicate that an individual is at risk for suicide. One person with a specifi c

plan to commit suicide may not actually attempt it, whereas another person who had

not previously had a serious intention or plan to die by suicide may do so (Kessler,

Borges, & Walters, 1999). There are, however, certain behaviors that can suggest

serious suicidal intent and can serve as warning signs (Packman et al., 2004):

• giving away possessions,


• saying goodbye to friends or family,


• talking about death or suicide generally or about specifi c plans to commit suicide,


• making threats of suicide, and


• rehearsing a plan for suicide.

Unfortunately, not everyone who plans or is about to commit suicide displays warn-

ing signs.

For some people, suicidal thoughts or plans turn into actions. Certain methods

of suicide are more lethal than others, and the more lethal the method, the more

likely it is that the suicide attempt will result in death or serious medical problems.

For instance, shooting, hanging or jumping from a high place are more lethal than

Table 6.11 • Suicide Facts at a Glance

Prevalence

• Approximately 1.3% of all deaths in the United States are considered to be suicides—over
  32,000 people annually (CDC, 2005).


• Worldwide, the elderly (65 and older) are three times as likely to commit suicide as are those
  under 25 years old (WHO, 1999).


• In the United States, suicide is most likely to occur among the elderly, particularly white men;
  young people (under 26) are the next most likely to commit suicide (CDC, 2005; Miniño et al.,
  2002; CDC, 2000).


• From 1950 to 1995, worldwide suicide rates increased by 60%, particularly among young men
  (WHO, 1999), making it the third leading cause of death for teenagers, particularly males
  (Waters, 2000).

Gender Differences

• Worldwide, women are more likely to attempt suicide than are men (Nock et al., 2008).


• In the United States, although women are more likely to attempt suicide, men are four times
  more likely to die from an attempt (CDC, 2005).

Cultural Differences

• Hanging is the most common method of suicide worldwide, but guns are the most common
  method in the United States (particularly among men), undoubtedly because access to them
  is easier than in other countries (De Leo, 2002a; Moscicki, 1995; Romero & Wintemute, 2002).


• Internationally, Eastern European countries, as a region, have the highest rates of suicide;
  examples are Belarus (41.5 per 100,000) and Lithuania (51.6 per 100,000). Latin American
  countries tend to have the lowest rates; examples are Paraguay (4.2 per 100,000) and
  Colombia (4.5 per 100,000) (WHO, 2002).