Citation

Travis R. Int. J. Comp. Sociol. 1990; 31(3-4): 237-248.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1163/002071590X00385

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

As sociologists approach the centennial celebration of Durkheim's Suicide, we can neither relax our attention nor idolize the gifts he has given us; but, we must instead move the science of sociology forward, until no individual feels so much anguish, pain and isolation that he/she feels compelled to commit suicide. Recent data from the World Health Organization clearly indicates that suicide is at crisis proportions in Hungary and in Sri Lanka. Among the elderly world-wide, but most especially in Eastern Europe, suicide is a serious social problem, with rates often eclipsing national averages. Although systematic data is not yet available on each and every society, there is some evidence that alienation, especially in Japan and India, may be one of the primary motives for committing suicide. © 1990, Brill. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

suicide; India; Sri Lanka; alienation; elderly people