Suicide : \Su"i*cide\, n. [L. sui of one's self (akin to suus
one's own) _ caedere to slay, to kill. Cf. So, adv.,
Homicide.]
1. The act of taking one's own life voluntary and
intentionally; self-murder; specifically (Law), the
felonious killing of one's self; the deliberate and
intentional destruction of one's own life by a person of
years of discretion and of sound mind.
2. One guilty of self-murder; a felo-de-se.
3. Ruin of one's own interests. ``Intestine war, which may be
justly called political suicide.'' --V. Knox.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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SUICIDE, crimes, med. jur. The act of malicious self-murder; felo de se.
(q.v.) 3 Man. Gran. & Scott, 437, 457, 458; 1 Hale, P. C.. 441. But it has
been decided in England that where a man's life was insured, and the policy
contained a proviso that "every policy effected by a person on his or her
own life should be void, if such person should commit suicide, or die by
duelling or the hands of justice," the terms of the condition included all
acts of voluntary self-destruction, whether the insured at the time such act
was committed, was or was not a moral responsible agent. 3 Man. Gr. & Scott,
437. In New York it has been held, that an insane person cannot commit
suicide, because. such person has no will. 4 Hill' 3 R. 75.
2. It is not punishable it is believed in any of the United States, as
the unfortunate object of this offence is beyond the reach of human
tribunals, and to deprive his family of the property he leaves would be
unjust.
3. In cases of sudden death, it is of great consequence to ascertain,
on finding the body, whether the deceased has been murdered, died suddenly
of a natural death, or whether he has committed suicide. By a careful
examination of the position of the body, and of the circumstances attending
it, it can be generally ascertained whether the deceased committed suicide,
was murdered, or died a natural death. But there are sometimes cases of
Suicide : which can scarcely be distinguished from those of murder. A case of
suicide is mentioned by Doctor Devergie, (Annales d'Hygiene, transcribed by
Trebuchet, Jurisprudence de la Medecine, p. 40,) which bears a striking
analogy to a murder. The individual went to the cemetery of Pere la Chaise,
near Paris, and with a razor inflicted a wound on himself immediately below
the oshyoide; the first blow penetrated eleven lines in depth; a second, in
the wound made by the first, pushed the instrument to the depth of twenty-
one lines; a third extended as far as the posterior of the pharynx, cutting
the muscles which attached the tongue to the oshyoide, and made a wound of
two inches in depth. Imagine an enormous wound, immediately under the chin,
two inches in depth, and three inches and three lines in width, and a foot
in circumference; and then judge whether such wound could not be easily
mistaken as having been made by a stranger, and not by the deceased. Vide
Death, and 1 Briand, Med. Leg. 2e partie, c. 1, art. 6.
Based on Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [Bouvier_Law_Dictionary]:
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Suicide : Suicide is a tragic and potentially preventable public health problem. In 2000, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S. Specifically, 10.6 out of every 100,000 persons died by
suicide. The total number of suicides was 29,350, or 1.2 percent of all deaths. Suicide deaths outnumber homicide deaths by five to three. It has been estimated that there may be from eight to 25
attempted suicides per every one suicide death. The alarming numbers of suicide deaths and attempts emphasize the need for carefully designed prevention efforts.
Suicidal behavior is complex. Some risk factors vary with age, gender and ethnic group and may even change over time. The risk factors for suicide frequently occur in combination. Research has shown
that more than 90 percent of people who kill themselves have depression or another diagnosable mental or serotonin are associated with the risk for suicide. Diminished levels of this brain
chemical have been found in patients with depression, impulsive disorders, a history of violent suicide attempts, and also in postmortem brains of suicide victims.
Adverse life events in combination with other risk factors such as depression may lead to suicide. However, suicide and suicidal behavior are not normal responses to stress. Many people have one or
more risk factors and are not suicidal. Other risk factors include: prior suicide attempt; family history of mental disorder or substance abuse; family history of suicide; family violence, including
physical or sexual abuse; firearms in the home; incarceration; and exposure to the suicidal behavior of others, including family members, peers, or even in the media.
What should you do if someone tells you they are thinking about suicide?
If someone tells you they are thinking about suicide, you should take their distress seriously, listen
nonjudgmentally, and help them get to a professional for evaluation and treatment. People consider suicide when they are hopeless and unable to see alternative solutions to problems. Suicidal behavior
is most often related to a mental disorder (depression) or to lethal means of committing suicide.
What are the most common methods of suicide?
Firearms are the most commonly used method of suicide for men and women, accounting for 60 percent of all suicides. Nearly 80 percent
of all firearm suicides are committed by white males. The second most common method for men is hanging; for women, the second most common method is self-poisoning including drug overdose. The presence
of a firearm in the home has been found to be an independent, additional risk factor for suicide. Thus, when a family member or health care provider is faced with an individual at risk for
suicide, they should make sure that firearms are removed from the home.
Why do men commit suicide more often than women do?
More than four times as many men as women die by suicide; but women attempt suicide more often during their lives than do men,
and women report higher rates of depression. Men and women use different suicide methods. Women in all countries are more likely to ingest poisons than men. In countries where the poisons are highly
lethal and/or where treatment resources scarce, rescue is rare and hence female suicides outnumber males.
Who is at highest risk for suicide in the U.S.?
There is a common perception that suicide rates are highest among the young. However, it is the elderly, particularly older white
males that have the highest rates. And among white males 65 and older, risk goes up with age. White men 85 and older have a suicide rate that is six times that of the overall national rate. Some older
persons are less likely to survive attempts because they are less likely to recuperate . Over 70 percent of older suicide victims have been to their primary care physician within the month of their
death, many did not tell their doctors they were depressed nor did the doctor detect it. This has led to research efforts to determine how to best improve physicians' abilities to detect and treat
depression in older adults.
Are gay and lesbian youth at high risk for suicide?
With regard to completed suicide, there are no national statistics for suicide rates among gay, lesbian or bisexual (GLB)
persons. Sexual orientation is not a question on the death certificate, and to determine whether rates are higher for GLB persons, we would need to know the proportion of the U.S. population that
considers themselves gay, lesbian or bisexual. Sexual orientation is a personal characteristic that people can, and often do choose to hide, so that in psychological autopsy studies of suicide victims
where risk factors are examined, it is difficult to know for certain the victim's sexual orientation. This is particularly a problem when considering GLB youth who may be less certain of their sexual
orientation and less open. In the few studies examining risk factors for suicide where sexual orientation was assessed, the risk for gay or lesbian persons did not appear any greater than among
heterosexuals, once mental and substance abuse disorders were taken into account.
With regard to suicide attempts, several state and national studies have reported that high school students who report to be homosexually and bisexually active have higher rates of suicide thoughts
and attempts in the past year compared to youth with data are subject to question. But they do agree that efforts should focus on how to help GLB youth grow up to be healthy and successful despite
the obstacles that they face. Because school based suicide awareness programs have not proven effective for youth in general, and in some cases have caused increased distress in vulnerable youth, they
are not likely to be helpful for GLB youth either. Because young people should not be exposed to programs that do not work, and certainly not to programs that increase risk, more research is needed to
develop safe and effective programs.
Are African American youth at great risk for suicide?
Historically, African Americans have had much lower rates of suicides compared to white Americans. However, beginning in the
1980s, the rates for African American male youth began to rise at a much faster rate than their white counterparts. The most recent trends suggest a decrease in suicide across all gender and racial
groups, but health policy experts remain concerned about the increase in suicide by firearms for all young males. Whether African American male youth are more likely to engage in "victim-precipitated
homicide" by deliberately getting in the line of fire of either gang or law enforcement activity, remains an important research question, as such deaths are not typically classified as suicides.
Is suicide related to impulsiveness?
Impulsiveness is the tendency to act without thinking through a plan or its consequences. It is a symptom of a number of mental disorders, and
therefore, it has been linked to suicidal behavior usually through its association with mental disorders and/or substance abuse. The mental disorders with impulsiveness most linked to suicide include
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder that has impulsiveness as a characteristic is not a strong risk factor for suicide by itself. Impulsiveness has been linked with aggressive and violent
behaviors including homicide and suicide. However, impulsiveness without aggression or violence present has also been found to contribute to risk for suicide.
Is there such a thing as "rational" suicide?
Some right-to-die advocacy groups promote the idea that suicide, including palliative care . Neither is it yet clear what effect
other factors such as the availability of social support, access to care, and pain relief may have on end-of-life preferences. This public debate will be better informed after such research is
conducted.
What biological factors increase risk for suicide?
Researchers believe that both depression and suicidal behavior can be linked to decreased serotonin in the brain. Low levels of
a serotonin metabolite, 5-HIAA, have been detected in { cerebral spinal fluid in persons who have attempted suicide, as well as by postmortem studies examining certain brain regions of suicide
victims. One of the goals of understanding the biology of suicidal behavior is to improve treatments. Scientists have learned that serotonin receptors in the brain increase their activity in persons
with major depression and suicidality, which explains why medications that desensitize or down-regulate these receptors (such as the serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs) have been found effective
in treating depression. Currently, studies are underway to examine to what extent medications like SSRIs can reduce suicidal behavior.
Can_the_risk_for_suicide_be_inherited?__
There_is_growing_evidence_that__{_family_history"> Can the risk for suicide be inherited?
There is growing evidence that { family history ; it simply means that such persons may be more vulnerable and should take steps to reduce
their risk, such as getting evaluation and treatment at the first sign of mental illness.
Does depression increase the risk for suicide?
Although the majority of people who have depression do not die by suicide, having major depression does increase suicide risk
compared to people without depression. The risk of death by suicide may, in part, be related to the severity of the depression. New data on depression that has followed people over long periods of time
suggests that about 2% of those people ever treated for depression in an outpatient setting will die by suicide. Among those ever treated for depression in an inpatient hospital setting, the rate of
death by suicide is twice as high (4%). Those treated for depression as inpatients following suicide ideation or suicide attempts are about three times as likely to die by suicide (6%) as those who
were only treated as outpatients. There are also dramatic gender differences in lifetime risk of suicide in depression. Whereas about 7% of men with a lifetime history of depression will die by
suicide, only 1% of women with a lifetime history of depression will die by suicide.
Another way about thinking of suicide risk and depression is to examine the lives of people who have died by suicide and see what proportion of them were depressed. Based on that perspective, it is
estimated that about 60% of people who commit suicide have had a mood disorder (e.g., major depression, bipolar disorder, dysthymia ). Younger persons who kill themselves often have a substance
abuse disorder in addition to being depressed.
Does alcohol and other drug abuse increase the risk for suicide?
A number of recent national surveys have helped shed light on the relationship between alcohol and other drug use
and suicidal behavior. A review of minimum-age drinking laws and suicides among youths age 18 to 20 found that lower minimum-age drinking laws was associated with higher youth suicide rates. In a large
study following adults who drink alcohol, suicide ideation was reported among persons with depression. In another survey, persons who reported that they had made a suicide attempt during their lifetime
were more likely to have had a depressive disorder, and many also had an alcohol and/or substance abuse disorder. In a study of all nontraffic injury deaths associated with alcohol intoxication, over
20 percent were suicides.
In studies that examine risk factors among people who have completed suicide, substance use and abuse occurs more frequently among youth and adults, compared to older persons. For particular groups
at risk, such as American Indians and Alaskan Natives, depression and alcohol use and abuse are the most common risk factors for completed suicide. Alcohol and substance abuse problems contribute to
suicidal behavior in several ways. Persons who are dependent on substances often have a number of other risk factors for suicide. In addition to being depressed, they are also likely to have social and
financial problems. Substance use and abuse can be common among persons prone to be impulsive, and among persons who engage in many types of high risk behaviors that result in self-harm.
Fortunately, there are a number of effective prevention efforts that reduce risk for substance abuse in youth, and there are effective treatments for alcohol and substance use problems. Researchers are
currently testing treatments specifically for persons with substance abuse problems who are also suicidal, or have attempted suicide in the past.
What does "suicide contagion" mean, and what can be done to prevent it?
Suicide contagion is the exposure to suicide or suicidal behaviors within one's family, one's peer group,
or through media reports of suicide and can result in an increase in suicide and suicidal behaviors. Direct and indirect exposure to suicidal behavior has been shown to precede an increase in suicidal
behavior in persons at risk for suicide, especially in adolescents and young adults.
The risk for suicide contagion as a result of media reporting can be minimized by factual and concise media reports of suicide. Reports of suicide should not be repetitive, as prolonged exposure can
increase the likelihood of suicide contagion. Suicide is the result of many complex factors; therefore media coverage should not report oversimplified explanations such as recent negative life events
or acute stressors. Reports should not divulge detailed descriptions of the method used to avoid possible duplication. Reports should not glorify the victim and should not imply that suicide was
effective in achieving a personal goal such as gaining media attention. In addition, information such as hotlines or emergency contacts should be provided for those at risk for suicide.
Following exposure to suicide or suicidal behaviors within one's family or peer group, suicide risk can be minimized by having family members, friends, peers, and colleagues of the victim evaluated
by a mental health professional. Persons deemed at risk for suicide should then be referred for additional mental health services.
Is it possible to predict suicide?
At the current time there is no definitive measure to predict suicide or suicidal behavior. Researchers have identified factors that place
individuals at higher risk for suicide, but very few persons with these risk factors will actually commit suicide. Risk factors include mental illness, substance abuse, previous suicide attempts,
family history of suicide, history of being sexually abused, and impulsive or aggressive tendencies. Suicide is a relatively rare event and it is therefore difficult to predict which persons with these
risk factors will ultimately commit suicide.
Source: National Institute of Mental Health (www.nimh.nih.gov)
Based on University of Miami School of Medicine [Medical_Dictionary]:
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Suicide : Suicide: The act of causing ones own death. Suicide may be positive or negative and it may be direct or indirect. Suicide is a positive act when one takes ones own life.
Suicide is a negative act when one does not do what is necessary to escape death such as leaving a burning building.
Suicide is direct when one has the intention of causing ones own death, whether as an end to be attained, or as a means to another end, as when a man kills himself to escape condemnation, disgrace,
ruin, etc.
Suicide is indirect (and not usually called suicide) when one does not desire it as an end or a means, but when one nevertheless commits an act which courts death, as in tending someone with SARS
knowing that they may well succumb to the same illness.
Based on University of Miami School of Medicine [Medical_Dictionary]:
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