Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find the most often asked questions about suicide, some from actual letters The Foundation has received. Many come from young teens struggling to understand the suicide attempts of friends, and trying to learn how they can help.
Q: What percentage of college students who kill themselves are male? Why do you think more/ less boys than girls kill themselves?
A: 75-80 percent are boys although more girls will attempt suicide. Boys are more involved than girls in all forms of aggressive and violent behavior.
Q. What is the biggest cause of suicide among college students?
A: 95 percent are suffering from mental illness, usually depression. If depressed,
substance abuse, anxiety, impulsivity, rage, hopelessness and desperation increase
the risk.
Q: I’ve heard that suicides are more frequent around the holidays? Is this true, and if so,
how much do they increase at that time?
A: Suicides are not more frequent during the holidays. It appears that the rates are the highest in April, and the
summer months, June and July.
Q: It is often said that a suicidal person goes through a period where he seeks for help
from other people. Does this then mean that it COULD be ultimately the fault of other
people (because they don’t appear concerned enough) that one decides to kill
him/herself?
A: Not a fair conclusion, although it could be a contributing factor in some cases
particularly with elderly, terminally ill people.
Q: Apart from talking to a suicidal person and encouraging him/her to go for counseling,
what else can we do to prevent this?
A: Going with someone to the counselor often helps. If the person won't listen to you,
you may need to talk to someone who might influence him or her. Saving a life is more
important than violating a confidence.
Q: People often get uncomfortable when one discloses something as intimate and
frightening as suicidal thoughts. What do you think can be done to reduce this stigma,
either of suicidal people, or of depressive patients? Can people actually “change” their
minds and accept someone who is suicidal?
A: As people recognize that suicidal behavior is the result of a medical condition not a
sign of weakness or character defect it will change.
Q: What is the most frequent method of suicide? Is the most frequent method different for men and women?
A: Sixty percent of all people who kill themselves do so with a firearm, accounting for more than 18,000 deaths each year in the US. Firearms are now the most frequent method of suicide for men and women of all ages, including boys and girls aged 10 to 14 years.
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