Suicide

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It involves an individual taking their own life, usually as a result of social isolation and stressful emotions. This is done with the rationalization that they have no reason or goal in life anymore. Stress factors that lead to suicidal behaviour tend to be biological, psychological and sociological issues. People who are about to commit tend to feel helpless and resigned, while losing interest in normal pleasures. There is considerable evidence linking suicide to alcohol and substance use disorders, but they are not well established (Lubell). Many victims also suffer from psychiatric illnesses. “Males complete suicide four times more than females, but females account for 75% of the attempted suicides (mainly with drug overdoses, while men use more violent means like guns and hanging)” (Teenage Depression & Suicide). Suicide is a preventable, selfish act that is brought up by the expected characteristics of society, seen largely in teenagers by the feeling of solitude.
The sociological study of suicide actually began in the 1820’s with research by Jean-Pierre Falret in France and Johann Casper in Germany (Thompson 109). Emile Durkheim organized this early work and integrated it into theoretical framework in the late 1800’s. He compared the lifestyles of Protestants and Catholics in his era along with the suicide rates of the recent studies. According to Thompson (110), Durkheim divided suicide into four main categories: egoistic, anomic, altruistic and fatalistic. The idea of these categories still strongly relates to our modern society and was the foundation for the study of suicidal tendencies in the present day.
The most common age of a suicide victim is between 40-44 years old (Statistics Canada). This could be explained by a mid-life crisis or the sudden realization of worthlessness or loneliness after many years by themselves. Not surprisingly though, teenagers are often seen taking their lives at a... [continues]

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