Causes of Suicide

Suicide is a complex problem for which there is no one explanation. There is no single reason why a person commits suicide. Suicide results due to a complex interaction of biological, genetic, psychological, social, cultural and environmental factors. No single factor has gained acceptance as a universal cause of suicide.  

It is also difficult to explain why certain people take this decision while others in a similar or even worse situation do not. However, most suicides can be prevented. Suicide is now a major public health issue in all countries. Empowering primary health care personnel in identifying, assessing, managing, and referring the suicidal persons in the community is a very important step in Suicide Prevention.

The common factors are listed below.

·         Depression however, is a common phenomenon amongst those who die by suicide.

·         Suffering  -e.g. physical or emotional agony that is not correctable

·         Stress -e.g. grief after the death of a loved one

·         Crime -e.g. escaping judicial punishment and the dehumanization   and boredom of incarceration; self-punishment due to guilt.

·         Mental Illness: -e.g. depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or post traumatic stress disorder.

·         Catastrophic injury -e.g. paralysis, disfigurement, loss of limb

·         Adverse Environment --e.g. sexual abuse, domestic abuse, poverty, homelessness, bullying, social isolation, discrimination.

·         Financial Loss- e.g. loss of job/assets, debts.

·         Self Sacrifice Reasons -e.g. a soldier throwing his body on a grenade. Some does not consider this suicide because the individual does not have the goal of ending his or her life per se, but rather shielding others from harm at the possible risk of losing their own life.

·         Accidental suicide -e.g. while playing Russian roulette or Overdose.

·         Unresolved or unresolvable sexual issues. - e.g. sexism, sexual orientation, gender dysphoria, unrequited love, aftermath of a break up, involuntary celibacy, acquiring an incurable sexually transmitted infection (HIV, herpes, HPV))

·         To avoid shame or dishonor -e.g. the Bushido ideal, under which a disgraced samurai could regain his honor by performing seppuku) .

·         Terrorism can also be a motive for suicide, especially when related to religion (e.g. suicide bombings) .

·         Extreme nationalism -e.g. the Kamikaze, Selbstopfer, and Kaiten suicide weapons.

·         Philosophical Belief that life has no inherent value -e.g. absurdism, pessimism, and nihilism.

·         Religious Cults- -e.g. Heaven's Gate and Peoples Temple.

·         Loneliness- especially when prolonged