What Causes a Person to Commit Suicide?
Among the immediate motives for suicide are despair, hopelessness, illness, humiliation, loss of employment, loss of a relationship, death in the family, guilt, or psychotic delusions. It is estimated that 90-95 percent of suicides involve depression and other brain disorders. Many high-risk groups and/or factors can lead a person to commit suicide: • Depression: Between 30 percent and 70 percent of suicide victims suffered from major depression or bipolar disorder. • Substance Abuse: An estimated 50 percent of suicides involve substance abuse. The rate of suicide in alcoholics is 3 to 4 times the average, and for narcotics users it is 5 times the average. Often, depression is also a factor in these cases. • Schizophrenia: One-third of people with schizophrenia attempt suicide, and 5-10 percent eventually succeed. The majority of people with schizophrenia who are suicidal are young, unemployed males with no families. They are usually isolated and may also have substance abuse problems.
