According to Dryden-Edwards (2013), Suicide is the process of purposely ending one's own life. The way societies view suicide varies widely according to culture and religion. For example, many Western cultures, as well as mainstream Judaism, Islam, and Christianity tend to view killing oneself as quite negative. One myth about suicide that may be the result of this view is considering suicide to always be the result of a mental illness. Some societies also treat a suicide attempt as if it were a crime. However, suicides are sometimes seen as understandable or even honorable in certain circumstances, such as in protest to persecution (for example, hunger strike), as part of battle or resistance (for example, suicide pilots of World War II; suicide bombers) or as a way of preserving the honor of a dishonored person (for example, killing oneself to preserve the honor or safety of family members).
Microsoft Encarta 2009 stipulates that; Suicide is intentional, self-inflicted death. It is a uniquely human act. Suicide occurs in all cultures. People who attempt or complete suicide, usually suffer from extreme emotional pain and distress and feel unable to cope with their problems. They are likely to suffer from mental illnesses, particularly severe depression, and to feel hopeless about the future. People who exhibit suicidal behaviors nearly always have a serious psychiatric disorder.
Statistics show that nine out of ten people who commit or attempt suicide have at least one major psychiatric illness and in half of these cases two or more such illnesses are present. Most common of these psychiatric conditions are mood disorders, alcohol and substance abuse, and behavior disorders. In the United States, suicide ranks in the top ten causes of death,