A Silent Killer
Todd Shelton | 2/19/2004

Brothers,

Todd Shelton

Editor

“My name is suicide and you, your child, a friend, or a loved one might be my next victim.  Years ago, people thought they had me figured out, but they were wrong.  I have killed more people in the past ten years than the combined totals of my competitors:  stroke, cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, pneumonia, influenza, and lung disease!  No one talks about me.  I guess you can call me a silent killer.”

Let’s look at the facts.  Suicide is the second leading cause of death of those aged fifteen to nineteen, and is the third leading cause for young adults fifteen to twenty-four years old.  Traditionally, rates have been the highest among elderly men, but in recent years rates among young people have skyrocketed past.  They are now the highest risk group in a third of all countries.  So who’s making this decision to take their own life?  Males are four times more likely  to commit suicide, but females are far more likely to attempt to kill themselves.  Every hour and forty-five minutes another person becomes a statistic.

You can not put a label on someone who has attempted or is contemplating suicide.  People with extremely different backgrounds and lifestyles become victims of suicide every day.  Each person deals with stressful or traumatic events differently.  Usually, when there is an accumulation of events over an extended period of time, normal strategies used to cope can be pushed to the limit.  People usually attempt suicide to block unbearable emotional pain.  A person attempting suicide is often so distressed; they are unable to find other options.

So how do you know if someone you love is thinking about ending his or her life?  There are many behavioral and emotional changes that usually present themselves.  Some experience overwhelming pain that exceeds their coping capacities.  A feeling of hopelessness can arise, making the person feel like the pain will continue or even get worse and never end.  Many times people feel powerless, deciding that the resources to reduce pain are exhausted.  Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt, and self-hatred are usually shown.  Once the early signs of trouble begin, greater problems then arise.  You may notice self-inflicted injuries, reckless behavior, and explicit statements of suicidal ideation or feelings.

In addition to the emotional and behavioral warning signs, there are also conditions and events to be watchful for that can trigger an attempt at suicide.

Note Ð Children and young adults may mask depression by hyperactivity or acting out.  The elderly are sometimes overlooked.  Some mistake depression as a natural sign of aging.

Keep in mind, there is a caution about warning signs.  The majority of a suicidal population at any one time might not have many of the warning signs.  Also, many successful suicides only have a few of the conditions listed above.  Each person’s situation is different.  Even if your friend or loved one does not fit the common “suicidal” stereotype, they may still need help.

Warning signs:

1. Death or terminal illness of a relative or friend.
2. Divorce, separation, broken relationship, or family stress.
3. Loss of health.
4. Loss of job, home, money, status, or personal security.
5. Alcohol or drug abuse.
6. Depression

 Additional material:

• The effects of a silent killer
• Truths and myths about suicide

For more information, visit www.save.org. Also, the National Hopeline Network

 1-800-SUICIDE

provides access to trained counselors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 (by Samantha Owens, reprinted with permission from To Dragma of Alpha Omicron Pi, Spring 2002)