Citation

Satterfield A. Violence Gend. 2018; 5(3): 128.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/vio.2018.29017.asa

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

It is with sadness and hope for change that Violence and Gender addresses the topic of suicide. Like incidences of targeted violence, there is a fear that highlighting this form of violence (directed at oneself) can create incidents of copycat suicides or stigmatize the individuals who have died by suicide. Because the term "suicide" has been a taboo subject, few are comfortable talking about this type of violence. Phrases of "he/she took their own life" or "he/she ended it all" are too often used instead of "he/she died by suicide." We must directly address suicide now. In recent days, the media has reported examples of celebrities who have killed themselves. We react with shock that these inspiring individuals whose lives seemed so full have chosen this way to die.

Driven by those feelings and a need to make sense of the death, we ask, "Why?" What could be so bad that this individual would want to die? We must recognize that suicide and depression do not discriminate. Depression is epidemic--it is the leading cause of disability and affects 6.7% of American adults (Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2018). The real question is, how do we identify and help someone whose distress is so great that suicide has become an option?

According to the World Health Organization, every 40 sec a person dies by suicide somewhere in the world. Suicide is three times more common in men than in women...

Language: en