Suicide can have many reasons, including mental illness, substance abuse, political or religious beliefs, and criminal acts. Depression and schizophrenia are the most common mental illnesses associated with suicide, while alcohol and other substances can impair judgment and increase impulsivity. Some people accidentally die while attempting suicide as a cry for help, while others commit suicide to avoid punishment or dishonor. Some individuals believe their suicide serves a greater purpose, such as suicide bombers and kamikaze pilots.
Usually, those left behind after a suicide wonder why their loved one took his own life. The reasons for suicide are nearly limitless and can be anything from a recent job loss to a political statement. The most common reasons for suicide include mental illness and substance abuse. Some people also commit suicide to avoid severe punishment or misfortune, or for political, religious or military reasons.
Unsurprisingly, many experts agree that one of the most common reasons for suicide is some type of mental illness. Depression and schizophrenia are the two most common mental illnesses associated with suicide. Depression alone affects about one in six people in the United States, and nearly half of all people who commit or attempt suicide have been diagnosed with some type of mental illness.
Individuals who abuse alcohol or other mind-altering substances are also considered to be more likely to commit suicide. In general, individuals under the influence are considered to be much more impulsive, as most substances impair a person’s judgment. Many times, alcohol can act as a mood lifter and, combined with severe depression, can push someone to do things they normally wouldn’t do, such as attempting suicide.
Sometimes, people try to commit suicide without meaning to or realizing that they could die. Many times, these people are trying to cry for help. Unfortunately, they make a mistake and end up dying. Erotic asphyxiation and oxygen deprivation are sometimes thought to be reasons for suicide, but most of the time these are accidental deaths.
Criminal acts and public dishonor are other reasons for suicide. Sometimes when people commit a violent crime, such as murder, they commit suicide to avoid the consequences. They may commit suicide soon after the crime, often known as murder-suicide, or wait for some time after the crime has been committed.
A famous example of this involves the German Nazis after WWII. Many of these leaders committed suicide during the Nuremberg Trials to avoid prosecution. A US politician, R. Budd Dwyer, also committed suicide to avoid prosecution and dishonor after being convicted of taking bribes while in office. In 1987, during a live television broadcast, he gave a speech, then promptly put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.
Politics, religion, and military tactics have also all been reasons for suicide. Individuals who commit suicide for these reasons typically believe their deaths serve a great purpose. Examples of these types of suicides include suicide bombers and kamikaze pilots.
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