THE SOCIETAL CAUSES OF SUICIDE

THE SOCIETAL CAUSES OF SUICIDE

Suicide is among the most essential topics in public health matter. The main reason as to why suicide is essential topic and requires thorough research is because it is among the leading causes of across the globe today. The concept of suicide is typical in the society today. Cases of homicides will remain, and we will always get the news through the media. Yet, various studies show that the number of suicides is double the number of homicides, and only few efforts have been made towards addressing the issue of suicide. There is numerous question which goes unanswered as far as the suicides are concerned, the unanswered questions are as a result of the fact that various individuals comprising of police, researchers, friends as well as families friends are still wondering why the rates of suicidal cases keep increasing.  Increase in the number of suicidal cases has played an adequate role in increasing the number of suicide prevention programs and organizations over the years, increase in the number of suicide prevention programs have been triggered by an increase in the social awareness as far as the social issue is concerned.

This paper seeks to ultimately explore the societal causes of suicidal cases. To be able to explore the causes appropriately, I will choose one fact regarding suicide from the Podcast, I will select one of the facts about suicide which I found to be interesting, I will provide an explanation for that particular fact. Additionally, based on Durkheim’s work and my chosen fact, I will establish whether the level of regulation or integration in society can be an explanation for a social fact I have selected about suicide.

The concepts of suicide described by Durkheim have different levels of alignment with the variations in the levels of suicide, I will briefly describe how which of the idea of suicide discussed by Durkheim is most aligned with the fact I have selected, that is the variations of the suicide as compare to the rates of homicide. There are various ways through which classical social theory such as Durkheim’s work is valuable and useful to theorists, modern researchers as well as social policymakers thus I will briefly give an overview of how the classical social theory is beneficial to different groups of individuals. Increasing awareness as well as the development of suicide prevention strategies is essential as it is one of the ways which could play an integral role in addressing the social cause which increases the rates of suicide.

The variation between rates of suicide during festive and springtime season is one of the facts which I found surprising in the Podcast.  The author of the Podcast alludes that the rates of suicide quite suicide low during holidays and high during the springtime. The second fact which I found surprising as presented in the Podcast is the contrast between suicides and homicides. As previously mentioned, the number of suicides is double the number of homicides in the United States (Dzeng & Pantilat,(2018). Additionally, I will also try to explore if the level of regulation of integration  in society can be a substantial explanation for the fact about fact which I have chosen. Social integration is all about the social solidarity that binds people into a bigger society.

Additionally, social regulation is related to the social forms as well as the social norms that restrict the natural desires of an individual. The level of integration possessed by a person possesses in a group supplies affects the level of consolation as well as affection for an individual who relies on these particular characteristics to be able to experience the sense of being needed or wanted within a given society. If a person develops a gloomy-ridden outlook on life, this results in depression, and the person may experience the sense of being unwanted. The individual may feel as if no other person who would notice their absence if they committed suicide.

This problem can be quickly addressed by having someone whom will keep asking them if they need anything and how they are feeling and also asking them how their day is going, such questions can help them feel cared for and hence change a life thus saving a life. Such questions clearly show that someone cares for them, which helps in satisfying a person’s need for feeling wanted. Now, I will briefly explain which of the three concepts of suicide is most aligned to the fact I have chosen. Durkheim clearly states that there are three forms of suicide comprising of; anomic suicide, altruistic suicide and egoistic suicide. Egoistic suicide results from a personal feeling as if he or she is not correctly integrated into society. This type of suicide may result from an individual feeling as if he or she has become extremely isolated, and there is no need to live anymore.

Altruistic suicide results from over integration, an individual who is experiencing high level of integration and becomes intimate or so close with their group, individual who find themselves may feel as if they lack freedom of being independent. The last type of suicide described by Durkheim is anomic suicide, and it usually results from an individual feeling hopeless and meaningless thus making the individual be unable to cope with unexpected changes, this is generally associated with a high level of depression which may cause the individual commit suicide.

Egoistic suicide is the one which is most aligned with my chosen fact. The idea in which individuals do not commit suicide during the holidays, typically around Christmas and New Year holidays, is the fact they become hopeful that things are likely to change for the better during the festive season, only to realize that they were wring later on.  David Lester alludes that   “It’s as if you expect things are going to be better, and when they turn out not to be better you’re more likely to be depressed in a suicidal way”. I believe my fact is related to the concept of egoistic suicide because people who are inadequately integrated into society, may feel as if their life has got no purpose. Additionally, I also think my selected fact is also related to the concept of anomic suicide. Ara, Uddin & Kabir, (2016) alludes that in anomic suicide, people set unrealistic expectations which may not be achievable, and in return, this results to dissatisfaction and disappointment.

Additionally, there are also various ways through which my chosen fact is related to some of the nine ways that Durkheim’s work as well as recent research that is linked societal influence to suicide as presented in the video by Karanikolas. When it comes to the fact I have chosen, suicide rates decrease and increase on the basis of holidays and seasons. This is actually correlated with more than one of the societal influences of the video. I believe that economy and integration plays an integral role in the this is because of specific holidays, the idea of having no close person to spend with them or being lonely can take a toll on an individual’s decision. On the other hand, the economy has some influence also, taking part in various activities during the holidays, or just in general, can be limited as a result of financial challenges. Everything is somehow connected to money, and without money, an individual cannot be able to accomplish things they are interested in doing or even meet their desires. In my opinion and personal observations, I feel that in most cases, the decision to commit suicide result from family issues, lack of meaningful interaction as well as financial struggles.

Lastly, there are various ways through which the classical social theory such as Durkheim’s work is valuable and useful to social policymakers, modern researchers, as well as theorists. The classical social theory is valuable to the above-stated group of individuals because it acts a basis of information which can be utilized in understanding the motives as well as causes of suicide.  Classical social theories established an entryway for today’s societies to acquire more knowledge on as well as a grasp of the overall approach a person undergoes before committing suicide. Social policymakers and researchers can recognize various circumstances in a person’s life that are likely to increase the possibility of committing suicide. Additionally, the above-mentioned group of individuals can determine individuals who are more inclined to committing suicide based on various factors comprising of; geographical location statistics as well as gender (Zhang et al, 2018).

In conclusion, even though suicide is a complicated topic that can’t be easily covered, it is an important topic and can bring more awareness in society. Suicide rates can be decreased by the construction of more method of preventing suicide. Lack of social integration triggers distinct concepts of suicide. In general, social unity is essential in bringing other social issues that exist in society to an end. In this paper, I have addressed various topics regarding suicide because it is one of the significant social issues being faced in society today. Reiterating my stance, it is highly essential to development new methods of preventing suicide and increasing awareness to be able to unveil the social causes of suicide.

References

Ara, M. J., Uddin, M. F., & Kabir, M. H. (2016). The causes of suicide and the Impact of society in Bangladesh. International Research Journal of Social Sciences, 5(3), 25-35.

Du, J., Zhang, Y., Luo, J., Jia, Y., Wei, Q., Tao, C., & Xu, H. (2018). Extracting psychiatric stressors for suicide from social media using deep learning. BMC medical informatics and decision making, 18(2), 43.

Dzeng, E., & Pantilat, S. Z. (2018). What are the Social Causes of Rational Suicide in Older Adults?. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 66(5), 853.