Articles on Suicide
Suicide: Is It a Selfish
Act?
Since we have just passed through Christmas, the highest suicide period
of the year, I thought it was time to address this taboo, yet all-too-common,
topic. What do you think about people who commit suicide? This is an
interesting question and one that produces a variety of responses...
(Read more)
Suicide: My Thoughts on
One Case
In "Suicide: What Do You Think about It?" I talked about the
varied reactions of people to the phenomenon of suicide. Today I want
to talk about a recent example of a typical reaction to suicide, one
that I experienced just prior to Christmas, that season of love, family,
and pronounced spikes in the annual rate of suicide... (Read
more)
Speaking Ill of the Dead
When I wrote my two recent blogs on suicide expressing my sadness that
there are people who still believe that those who commit suicide are
selfish, I waited for more of the same. I did not have to wait long...
(Read more)
How to Help a Suicidal
Person
What would you do if you suddenly encountered a friend, family member,
or even a complete stranger who was showing strong signs of imminent
suicide? Few of us are taught what to do in a situation such as this,
so let's look some ways to deal with this extremely difficult situation...
(Read more)
Talking to a Suicidal
Person
Dealing with a person who is having suicidal thoughts is thankfully
not something we have to deal with every day. Consequently few of us
are prepared should such a situation arise. In How to Help a Suicidal
Person (1) and (2), we looked at ways to address the immediate situation
of dealing with an at-risk person. Today we look at further themes in
helping a distressed person… (Read
more)
Reassuring a Suicidal
Person
In our continuing series on suicide, we look today at how to give reassurance,
information, and hope to a person at risk of suicide. Suicide claims
the lives of tens of thousands of Americans each year, and victims are
of both genders, and come from a multitude of backgrounds. Certainly
success and money are no insurance against the depression and anxiety
that predates suicidal thoughts and actions… (Read
more)
Suicide: Why
Do The Neighbors Talk But Do Nothing
This weekend I happened across a woman who needs help. She had a For
Sale sign out front of her block of units and I stopped to ask her which
one was for sale. She told me but it became obvious that she was distracted,
depressed and anxious...(Read
more)
Suicide: The Inability
of Family To See Past Their Own Agenda
I once lived next door to a man who committed suicide. He was a lovely
guy, with a wife and young child. But he was desperately ill and he
was not getting the help he needed...(Read
more)
Another Suicide, Another Pain-
Filled Life Ended
Yesterday I was woken by a flurry of activity at dawn in our normally
quiet street. Police cars, ambulances, forensics teams and finally,
the giveaway, the funeral directors van said it all. Another suicide...(Read
more)
Why the Taboo about Suicide?
A recent suicide by one of the neighbors in my street has resulted in
some typical behaviors by people when they find out that someone has
taken their life...(Read more)
Poor Treatment
of Suicide Survivors
What’s worse than getting to the point where life is nothing more
than an ongoing emotional hell that needs to end? It’s surviving
a suicide attempt and being treated by so-called professional medical
staff with contempt and irritation... (Read
more)