Myths About Suicide

Common as it is, suicide is still surrounded by an aura of mystery and by a considerable number of popular,  potentially very, very, dangerous misconceptions. One of the most unfortunate and potentially dangerous myths about suicide is that people who threaten to kill themselves will not carry out the threat; only the "silent type" will actually pull if off. This is quite untrue. One study, for example, found that in approximately 70% of all completed suicides, suicidal intent was communicated within three months before the fatal attempt.When people threaten suicide, they must be taken seriously.
Another myth is that people who have attempted suicide and failed were not serious about ending their lives . In this view, a mid self-inflicted injury--a superficial cutting of the wrist, for example--suggests that the would -be suicide was making a histrionic gesture, just faking or looking for sympathy. On the contrary, About 75 percent of all completed suicides have made a previous attempt or threat. Studies show that approximately 12 percent of those who make non-fatal suicide attempts will make a second successful attempt within two years. It may be that the initial attempt serves as a sort of trial run, enabling the person to prepare for a later,more efficient attempt.
As mentioned, the issue of suicide is often obscured by a cloud of mystery. Our emotional reactions to this phenomenon--fear, horror, curiosity, incomprehension, and perhaps attraction as well--give the status of "Unmentionable" in the minds of many people, a taboo which is strengthened by the Judeo-Christian church prohibition against taking one's own life.Connected with this cultural response is a third myth about suicide: the myth that in talking to depressed people, suicide is an unmentionable topic. According to this notion, questioning depressed persons about whether they have suicidal thoughts will either put the idea into their heads or, if it is already there, will give it greater force. In opposition to this belief, ALMOST all experienced clinicians agree that encouraging patients to talk about suicidal wishes often helps them to overcome such wishes and also provides the information necessary for therapeutic intervention