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Question: I recently heard that more people commit suicide each year than are murdered. Is that true and what are some of the danger signs to look out for? Answer: It’s true that annually some 23,000 people lose their lives to homicide and 32,000 people take their own lives in acts of suicide. 500,000 Americans attempts suicide each year, but survive. The more people are aware of the risk factors, the better. Physicians use the following guideline to help identify a patient’s potential, called the “SAD PERSONS” scale. S - sex: Males kill themselves three times more often than females. A - age: more common among men 45 years and older. D - depression: 70% of suicides were preceded by a depressive episode. P - Previous attempts or threats: Most people who die from suicide do so on the 1st or 2nd attempt. E - Ethanol use: Recent onset of ethanol or other sedatives hypnotic drug use increases the risk and may be a form of self-medication. R - Rational thinking loss: Profound cognitive slowing, psychotic depression, pre-existing brain damage. S - Social support deficit: Elderly people, single alienated adolescents or depressed individuals (social withdrawal often takes place as a result of the stressed behavior of victims). O - Organized plan: Individual may have threatened or talked about “life not worth living,” give things away, determined methods, etc. N - No spouse: Rate is higher among divorced or widowed, singles, or those who may have alienated a spouse. S - Sickness: People who have struggles with chronic, terminal, painful or incapacitating Illnesses. Answered by: Dr. Robert Rice |