This chapter in Death, Society, and Human Experience by Robert J. Kastenbaum discusses suicide. Once again, I find myself very interested in some of the facts about suicide in our world. For example, suicide is the eleventh most common cause of death in the general population. China has approximately 500,000 suicides each year (p. 199). These figures seem to be quite high when you actually look at them in print. I was surprised when I thought about how many people are associated with suicide in some way. Suicide affects young people, elders, different races, males and females. It appears to me that no one is completely exempt from suicide.
Kastenbaum talks about some basic suicide facts which I found quite interesting to know about. Most completed suicides occur in white males and increase with the age of males. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among youths from age 15 to 24 years. Bad economic times, emotional issues such as divorce, and the “emptiness” feeling are risk factors for suicide (p. 201). I have a particular friend that went through a divorce, got dismissed from her job, and just felt like everything around her was completely falling apart at that time. I never really thought that she would experience suicidal thoughts or feelings. That idea just did not occur to me when these negative situations where happening in her life. I guess I have always considered her to be powerful woman. Therefore, I assumed she would just pick herself up and move forward with her life. Looking back at this situation now, I realize how easy it would have been for her to consider suicide. Thankfully my friend made it through this and is now remarried, working, and very happy with her life. Kastenbaum was able to provide me with an image of someone who may have one or several suicidal factors. I have an awareness now that I did not have before reading this chapter.
Another topic that Kastenbaum discusses is suicide as a rational alternative. “Individuals do not destroy themselves in hope of thereby achieving a noble postmortem reputation or a place among the eternally blessed. Instead, they wish to subtract themselves from a life whose quality seems a worse evil than death” (p. 218). My initial reaction to this thought was pure sadness, especially when I thought about this happening with children or young adults. What could be so bad in a young person’s life? Then it hit me. I was overwhelmed thinking about all of the news reports on television and in the newspaper that I have seen. Most of Kastenbaum’s examples and his list of high–risk situations for suicide where all there. It seems almost obvious when you look at these news reports after reading this information about suicide.
In conclusion, I have learned many eye–opening factors about suicide. For example, a situation that can seem unimportant to one person, can be devastating to another person. The suicide statistics are high but may not even include all of the deaths that are truly associated with suicide. Suicide prevention is paramount; be aware and really listen when someone needs an ear.

Does everyone die in the same way? Are there any differences? Does it even make a difference to you? Robert Kastenbaum explores the Transition from Life in Chapter 4 with Dying. It starts with the actual moment of death. This makes you think about the specific act of dying. For example, older people sometimes just slip away due to Alzheimer’s disease or dementias that accompany some people in their last phase of life. Sedation can reduce awareness and responses from a patient appear impaired or not there at all. These are just a few ideas to think about when someone is dying.
Trajectories are forms of the dying process; I now know that there are many trajectories to consider. While reading this text, I found it necessary to reread some of the explanations since I started to place myself in the situation. I read it the first time to understand the material. Then, I read it again placing myself or someone in my family in that particular circumstance. Doing this gave me a real feeling for what it may be like when I die. I cried too. I never thought of myself to be sensitive enough to feel so much emotion just by reading a textbook. I know it sounds weird, but it is true.
Looking at dying from the point when a physician communicates that information to you, when someone in your family is going to die, it is quite an eye–opening experience. Within the last two years, I have had nine family members pass away. Some of them were older, distant relatives from my step–father’s side of the family. Therefore, I was not at the hospital with them when they died. However, many stories about the experience with the physicians have surfaced. The chart on page 118 in Chapter 4, “Breaking the Bad News”: Physician–Patient Communication, reminded me of some of the same scenes that played out with my relatives during their final stage of life. It is hard for me to picture the doctor just telling the patient some bad news, and then moving directly on to the next order of business. A person that is dying is not just a matter of business to their family. A much better approach to this situation would be for the doctor to establish some type of relationship with the patient and or family first. This does not have to take a very long time; however, it would make a big difference in the presentation of bad news.
Once again, I feel as though I have gained more perspective about death. It has been very interesting to read much of this information soon after nine deaths have occurred in my family.