Suicide - Some Questions Answered

One of the great paradoxical mysteries of our society is that in an era of opportunity and abundance, in a country blessed with everything its citizens could want, hundreds of those citizens, every year, decide to end their lives. For them, the glittering gems of freedom and plenty hold no charm, as the grind of living overwhelms them and the only way out of the struggle is to end the life. The people left behind who are affected by this action are at a loss and look to professionals in this field for answers.

By accessing the services of a specialist psychologist people affected by the suicide of a friend or relative can identify and work through the emotions associated with the event. Some of the questions you may ask cannot always be easily answered, some of them can.

If someone tells me they are thinking about suicide, should I take them seriously?

Yes, you should. Listen to them without making judgments and help them to access professional assistance. People who think about suicide are usually in a high state of emotional trauma and have problems that they can not see an end to. Generally the cause of most suicides is depression, alcohol or other substance abuse or an event that has caused extreme distress. If you know a person who is in this state of mind, then don't leave them alone and make sure there is nothing accessible with which they can hurt themselves.

What is the most common method of suicide?

This varies from country to country, and between men and women. In the US, 60% of all suicides are by firearms, but Australian statistics show that 85% of all suicides were by one of four methods:

=> hanging, suffocation and strangulation

=> poisoning by solids, liquids and gases

=> drug poisoning

=> firearms and explosives

Why is it that some people are more inclined towards suicide than others?

This is a difficult question as suicide is a complex phenomenon but there are four factors which make a person vulnerable:

=> predisposing factors (eg age, personality, family and biological/genetic variables)

=> triggering factors (eg loss/separation, family stress/violence, unemployment)

=> moderating factors (eg culture, values, religion) and

=> protective factors (eg coping ability, problem solving, social support)

These factors don't occur in sequence and are different for each individual.

How does suicide affect family and friends?

The people most deeply affected by suicide are generally the ones closest to the person that committed suicide, such as family and friends. The most common reactions are shock, disbelief, guilt and self-blame, looking for a scapegoat, looking for answers or reasons, anger towards the deceased, loss of trust and an examination of their own values.

The information here gives a brief description of factors and signs of recognizing potential suicide victims. This will give anyone who has been devastated by suicide a basis to begin to help with the healing process.


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To access counseling Brisbane people who have had the unfortunate experience of dealing with suicide can visit psychologist Brisbane Centre for Human Potential http://www.centreforhumanpotential.com.au/ to help them work through the emotional trauma.