Why Do People Commit Suicide

Why Do People Commit Suicide Depression Suicide Print Why Do People Commit Suicide? By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial policy Nancy Schimelpfening Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on September 30, 2015 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 04, 2020 Jacqueline Veissid / Getty Images More in Depression Suicide Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Types Childhood Depression In This Article Table of Contents Expand Depression and Mental Illness Trauma Substance Use Loss Hopelessness Chronic Pain A Burden to Others Social Isolation Cry for Help Accidental Suicide View All Back To Top Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911 immediately. Its often difficult to imagine what led a friend, family member, or celebrity to commit suicide. There may have been no clear warning signs, and you may wonder what clues you might have missed. Often, many factors combine to lead to a decision to commit suicide. Its often an act made  during a storm of strong emotions and life stresses rather than after careful consideration. Depression and Mental Illness While there are many factors that can influence a persons decision to commit suicide, the most common one is  severe depression.?? Depression can make people feel great emotional pain  and loss of hope, making them unable to see another way to relieve the pain other than ending their own life. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, depression is present in about half of all suicides. Other mental illnesses besides depression can also play a role in suicide.  For example, a person with schizophrenia  or other illnesses that produce psychosis might be hearing voices that command them to kill themselves.  Bipolar disorder, an illness in which a person experiences alternating periods of high and low moods, can also increase a persons risk for committing suicide.?? Borderline personality disorder  is another condition with a high rate of suicide.  Eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia, also have a high rate of death by suicide.?? Traumatic Stress A person who has had a traumatic experience, including childhood sexual abuse, rape, physical abuse, or war trauma, is at a  greater risk for suicide, even many years after the trauma.?? In a survey of nearly 6,000 U.S. adults, nearly 22% of people who have been raped had attempted suicide at some point while 23% who experienced physical assault tried to take their own life at some point. Being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or multiple incidents of trauma raises the risk even further. This is partly because depression is common after trauma and among those with PTSD, causing feelings of helplessness and hopelessness that can lead to suicide. The Connection Between Suicide and PTSD Substance Use and Impulsivity Drugs and alcohol can also influence a person who is feeling suicidal, making them more impulsive and likely to act upon their urges than they would be while sober. Use of drugs and alcohol can contribute to the other reasons people commit suicide, such as the loss of jobs and relationships.?? The rates of substance use and alcohol use disorder are also higher among people with depression and other psychological disorders. Put these together and the risks increase. Loss or Fear of Loss A person may decide to commit suicide when facing a loss or the fear of a loss. These situations can include: Ending a romantic relationship or close friendshipLosing a job or being unemployed and unable to find a sufficient source of steady incomeFinancial problemsLosing social positionLosing your living situation due to financial reasons or the ending of a relationshipAcademic failureLosing social or family acceptance due to revealing your sexual orientationBullying, shaming, or humiliation, including cyberbullyingBeing arrested or imprisoned Hopelessness Hopelessness, either in the short-term or as a longer-lasting trait, has been found in many studies to contribute to the decision to commit suicide. The person may be facing a social or physical challenge and may see no way the situation can improve. When people feel they have lost all hope and dont feel able to change that, it can overshadow all of the good things in their life, making suicide seem like a viable option.   While it might seem obvious to an outside observer that things will get better, people with depression may not be able to see this due to the pessimism and despair that go along with this illness. Chronic Pain and Terminal Illnesses If a person has chronic pain or illness with no hope of a cure or reprieve from suffering, suicide may seem like a way to regain dignity and control of their life. In some states, assisted suicide is legal for this very reason. According to a study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, the following health conditions were associated with a higher risk of suicide:?? AsthmaBack painBrain injuryCancerCongestive heart failureDiabetesEpilepsyHIV/AIDSHeart diseaseHigh blood pressureMigraineParkinsons disease Chronic pain can also bring on anxiety and depression, which can also increase your risk of suicide. According to research, people with chronic pain are four times more likely to have depression or anxiety than those who are pain-free. Chronic Disease and Mental Health Belief Your Life Is a Burden to Others A person with chronic pain or a terminal illness can also feel like a burden to others, as it becomes harder and harder to ask for yet another ride to the doctors office or more help with household duties or assistance paying for hospital bills. In fact, many people who decide to commit suicide often state that their loved ones or the world, in general, would be better off without them. This type of rhetoric is a common warning sign of suicide. People often see themselves as a burden to others or feel worthless due to the overwhelming emotional burden they are carrying within. Social Isolation A person can become socially isolated for many reasons, including losing friends or a spouse, undergoing a separation or divorce, physical or mental illness, social anxiety, retirement, or due to a move to a new location. Social isolation can also be caused by internal factors such as low  self-esteem.  This can lead to loneliness and other risk factors of suicide such as depression and alcohol or drug misuse. The Health Consequences of Loneliness A Cry for Help Sometimes people attempt suicide not so much because they really want to die, but because they simply dont know how to get help. Suicide attempts are not a cry for attention but a cry for help. It becomes a way to demonstrate to the world just how much they are hurting. Unfortunately, these cries for help may sometimes prove to be fatal if the person misjudges the lethality of their chosen method. People who make a failed attempt are also at a much higher risk of trying again, and their second attempts are much more likely to be lethal.   Accidental Suicide There are some situations where what appears to be a suicide is actually an accidental death. The dangerous choking game (also known as “pass-out challenge,” “flatliner,” and space monkey”) where teens attempt to asphyxiate themselves in order to feel a high, as well as autoerotic asphyxiation, are examples. Accidental suicides can also include unintentional overdoses, poisonings, and firearm deaths. A Word From Verywell You may never know why a person committed suicide. While it might have appeared that someone had everything to live for, it probably didnt feel that way to them. If you or a friend are at risk of self-harm, the  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  is available 24/7 for online chat or by phone by calling 800-273-8255.