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To be considered suicide, the death must be a central component and intention of the act, not just a certain consequence; hence, suicide bombing is considered a kind of bombing rather than a kind of suicide, and martyrdom usually escapes religious or legal proscription. There are only legal consequences when there is death and proof of intent.
It is probable that the incidence of suicide is widely under-reported due to both religious and social pressures, possibly by as much as 100% in some areas. Nevertheless, from the known suicides, certain trends are apparent. However, since the data are skewed, attempts to compare suicide rates between nations is statistically unwise.
A recent report by the World Health Organisation ( WHO) states that nearly a million people take their own lives every year, more than those murdered or killed in war. WHO figures show a suicide takes place somewhere in the world every 40 seconds. The numbers are highest in Europe's Baltic states, where around 40 people per 100,000 die by suicide each year.
In the United StatesThe United States of America also referred to as the United States U. America ¹ or the States is a federal republic in central North America, stretching from the Atlantic in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. It shares land borders with Canada in, maleThe word male has the following meanings: In biology, it refers to one half of a heterogamous reproduction system, where the female is the other half. The male sex comprises those organisms that produce sperm cells (which is defined as the smaller gamete)s are four times more likely to die by suicide than femaleFemale is a sex that denotes an animal which produces egg cells in order to reproduce. The "egg cell" is the larger gamete). Female or Feminine is a grammatical gender in many languages. The female is one half of a heterogamous reproduction system, wheres. Male suicide rates are higher than females in all age groups (the ratio varies from 3:1 to 10:1). In other western countries, males are also much more likely to die by suicide than females (usually by a factor of 3-4:1). The suicide rate in the USA is 0.02% per annum for males, and 0.005% per annum for females.
Children of either sex are 10-20 times less likely to die by suicide, and teenagers 1.5-2 times less likely, than adults of the same gender. The incidence of suicide among males over 75 years old is roughly twice that of other adult males.
While there are more male suicides than female, women are more likely to attempt suicide. One attempt at explaining this statistical phenomenon is that men tend to use more violent and effective methods than women - hence, the discrepancy in suicide rates and attempts between the two genders.
Certain time trends can be related to the type of death. In the United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a state in Western Europe, usually known simply as the United Kingdom the UK Britain or less accurately as Great Britain . The UK was formed by a series of Acts of Union which united the formerly, for example, the steady rise in suicides from 1945 to 1965 was curtailed following the removal of carbon monoxideCarbon monoxide chemical formula C O, is a colourless, odourless, flammable and highly toxic gas. It is a major product of the incomplete combustion of carbon and carbon-containing compounds. Sources Carbon monoxide has many common sources. The exhaust of from domestic gas supplies which occurred with the change from coal gas to natural gas. Methods vary across cultures, and the easy availability of lethal means plays a role.
Higher levels of social and national cohesion reduce suicide rates. Suicide levels are highest among the retired, unemployed, divorced, the childless, urbanites, empty nesters, and other people who live alone. Suicide rates also rise during times of economic uncertainty (although poverty is not a direct cause). Epidemiological studies generally show a relationship between suicide or suicidal behaviors and socio-economic disadvantage, including limited educational achievement, homelessness, unemployment, economic dependence and contact with the police or justice system.[1] War is always associated with a steep fall in suicides; for example, during World War I and World War II the rate fell markedly, even in neutral countries.
The majority of suicides suffer from some psychological disorder. Depression, either unipolar or as part of bipolar disorder, is an especially common cause. Substance abuse, severe physical disease or infirmity are also recognized causes.
The idea that suicide is more common during the winter holidays (including Christmas) is actually a myth, generally reinforced by media coverage associating suicide with the holiday season. The National Center for Health Statistics found that suicides drop during the winter months, and peak during spring.
It is estimated that global annual suicide fatalities could rise to 1.5 million by 2020.