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.