Suicide in America

Western Governors University

Suicide in America
“Suicide is a serious public health problem that causes immeasurable pain, suffering, and lost individuals, families, and communities nationwide” National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (2012, para. 1). A report by the Surgeon General, & National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (2012) states, “suicide takes life without regard to age, income, education, social standing, race, or gender. Overall, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for all Americans, the 2nd leading cause of death for adults ages 25-34, and the 3rd leading cause of death for youth ages 15-24. The legacy of suicide continues long after the death, impacting bereaved loved ones and communities.” (P. 104).
Sociologist Emile Durkheim published a groundbreaking book in 1897 on suicide. “According to Durkheim, suicide cannot simply be explained by individual psychological problems-otherwise suicide rates would be static. Durkheim argues that two social facts, in particular, influence suicide rates: integration, or the strength of attachment people feel to society, and regulation, or the degree of external constraint on people. Durkheim distinguishes between four types of suicide that correlate to these two social facts. Egoistic suicide is a result of a lack of integration; altruistic suicide is a result of too much integration; anomic suicide is a result of too little regulation; and fatalistic suicide is a result of too much regulation” Sociological Theory (2004).
Individuals fitting into egoistic suicide category are disconnected from society. They think they do not fit in, may not have any or very little family support or friends. Unmarried individuals, particularly males are at a greater risk for suicide than married people. Loss of a job can lead to feelings of hopelessness, depression and further detachment from individuals, such as co-workers.
Warning signs may alert family member’s, friend’s or co-worker’s of the person who may be contemplating killing themselves. The person may show signs of changes in their mood or behavior. They could be increasingly angry or even hurting other people. The person may be sleeping a lot or very little. There may be signs of unexplained weight loss or not eating regularly. If the person uses drugs or drinks alcohol, he or she may be show signs of increased use. The person may be talking about ending their life and may even have a plan on how they want to kill themselves. A person who has formulated a plan, describing how they intend to carry the suicide out, is at greater risk than someone that does not have a plan. Not all suicide attempts end in death. Many can have lifelong disabilities due to the failed attempt. Gunshot to the head can result in brain injuries or injuries to the body can lead to functional disabilities. The cost for the initial treatment and any long-term treatment or rehabilitation is enormous. The cost often exceeds what the individual or family can afford. Financial assistance by Medicare and/or /Medicaid is the only way to pay the healthcare costs.
What about the survivors? For the people left behind, the loss of a friend, family member or even a close co-worker can be devastating. Many suffer from guilt, feeling that they should have seen the signs, or acted to prevent the person from ending their life. “In the years since the National Strategy was released, the movement to support individuals bereaved by suicide has intensified significantly. Surgeon General and National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (2012, p. 104). Many communities have support groups available. “National organizations such as the “American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE), and the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) have also increased their efforts to provide help and comfort to those bereaved by suicide” (p. 104).
Access to medical health services and programs for at-risk individuals is imperative for prevention. In California, especially in Tulare County, Mental Health Services are extremely limited. There are not enough workers, due to budget cuts, to handle the mental health needs of the community. As a registered nurse in our hospital, I often see patients that have attempted suicide or may be expressing suicidal thoughts. After the county’s normal business hours, we often have to wait for hours for the only on-call crisis worker to come and evaluate the patient. Patients requiring in-patient mental health services have to wait hours, and possibly days to be placed due to the limited bed availability in an appropriate mental health hospital. Patient’s that have been evaluated and deemed low-risk are released and told to follow-up in the out-patient setting.
Employers now offer employee assistance programs, as part of the employees benefit packages. Employers can also provide training to help the employee learn of the warning signs of suicide. Some employee insurance plans also pay for assistance with mental health issues, substance abuse and other such problems.
Community education helps to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and promote services available in the prevention of suicide. As society continues to move further in the prevention of suicide, lives can be saved, and the enormous financial burden to the American people can be reduced.

References
201401181050171020522356Surgeon General National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention 2012 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for ActionSurgeon General, & National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (2012). 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action. Retrieved January 18, 2014, from http://surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/national-strategy-suicide-prevention
Sociological Theory | Chapter 3 Chapter Summary - McGraw-Hill. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072817186/student_view0/chapter3/chapter
201401181424581603800416Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2012 Understanding Suicide Fact SheetCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (2012). Understanding Suicide Fact Sheet. Retrieved January 18, 2014, from http://cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/suicide_factsheet_2012-a.pdf 20140118163240140303492
National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention 2012 Prevention PrioritiesNational Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (2012). Prevention Priorities. Retrieved January 18, 2014, from http://actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org/ 20140118162134402184009

References: 201401181050171020522356Surgeon General National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention 2012 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for ActionSurgeon General, & National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (2012). 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action. Retrieved January 18, 2014, from http://surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/national-strategy-suicide-prevention Sociological Theory | Chapter 3 Chapter Summary - McGraw-Hill. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072817186/student_view0/chapter3/chapter 201401181424581603800416Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2012 Understanding Suicide Fact SheetCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (2012). Understanding Suicide Fact Sheet. Retrieved January 18, 2014, from http://cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/suicide_factsheet_2012-a.pdf 20140118163240140303492 National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention 2012 Prevention PrioritiesNational Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (2012). Prevention Priorities. Retrieved January 18, 2014, from http://actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org/ 20140118162134402184009