10 Popular Misconceptions About Suicide

Suicide is a growing problem around the world. With it’ rise many countries in Africa are all experiencing increasing suicide rates. Suicide has occurred in almost every culture and every time period. Depending on the time and culture, suicidal behavior has been accepted or condemned, and many myths about suicide have evolved.

Tied to the many stigmas and stereotypes people often associate with suicide–most prevalent among them being the belief that suicide is a “sin,” it is a sign of weakness, the person must be “crazy” and he or she just wants attention–are the economic, religious and social biases that further victimize those who are already experiencing severe distress or some form of mental illness.

Some of the most common myths and misconceptions people have about suicide include:

1. Suicide Is Largely Something Teenagers Do

Fact: Elderly people account for more suicides in the US than any other age group.  Usually elderly people attempt suicide using much more effective methods than young people.

2. People often commit suicide without warning – “out of the blue.”

Fact: Most people who take their lives have communicated intent beforehand, either blatantly or subtly.

3. Suicide Rates Are Lower In Africa Than The Rest Of The World

Fact: The evidence indicates that suicide isn’t so much rarer in Africa as much as it’s less often reforted . A large contributing factor is that suicide in many African nations can be seen as more as taboo than in the West, so less disclosure when it happens is all but inevitable.

4. Only crazy people commit suicide

Fact: Although most suicidal people are very unhappy, most suicidal acts are committed by people that aren’t characterized as psychotic. Thus, they are generally rational and in tough with reality. Seventy-five percent of those who commit suicide are, however, clinically depressed.

5. If a person committed suicide, his or her situation was probably so bad that death was the best solution

Fact: The life circumstances of suicidal individuals, while often bad, are survived by most people in similar circumstances. The perception of a difficult or challenging life circumstance is often more severe than the actual event.

6. Suicides Increase During The Holidays

Fact: While depression is often greatest in numbers during the holiday season, suicide is actually highest during the spring months.

7. People who talk about or threaten suicide don’t do it

Fact: A large percentage of people who threaten suicide carry out their threats. Take all threats seriously.

8. The tendency toward suicide is inherited and passed from generation to generation

Fact: Since suicides often do run in families, the assumption is made that suicide is inherited. However, suicide often occurs in individuals with no family history of suicide

9. Openly Suicidal People Are More Likely To Commit It

While it is certainly true that people who frequently contemplate putting themselves out of their misery attempt suicide often, people who attempt suicide impulsively tend to be vastly more successful. In fact, methods that require the least amount of planning tend to be by far the deadliest.

10. People Who Commit Suicide Always Leave Notes

While suicide notes are hardly an anomaly, a large majority of suicides do not leave behind any final message. A report by Dr. Antoon Leenaars of the Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention estimates that suicide notes are only found 12–30 percent of the time.