BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION THIS THURSDAY PLEASE READ AND BE READY

This Thursday September 25th 2014 in our book club discussion MTH has provided us with the material and what a material it is whew! (de ooman sen we all back ah school, lol). Our Yw has agreed to moderate for MTH, it has been confirmed. This discussion will be based on a series of videos and a paper she has provided on a very important subject I believe, and something we really ought to take notice of because it is on the rise. You will find the links posted below, please be here and ready.

We thank Cami for a job well done last night, although many thought the discussion, based upon the topic would be uncomfortable, we had a blast and I am sure others who were here would agree. We appreciate you Cami for an excellent job, well done,we had a great time, I cannot say it enough. Again thank you all for showing up, although some were missing, but the interaction was outstanding, kudos to you all. Knowledge is Key and so we push forward to the next, please be on time as we aim to begin @ 8 pm.

 The Subject is Suicide and Self Esteem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnqcA_it0qM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd-tjFDIQrw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV_60HOab6E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jXWtGFqAdQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGEQu0Yb0cc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1r06B7ttOk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrtZVuSXB9w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwbT56FHW6Y

Suicide is the act of taking one’s own life on purpose. Suicidal behavior is any action that could cause a person to die, such as taking a drug overdose or crashing a car on purpose.

Recently, beloved funny-man, Robin Williams committed suicide and had the world talking. People were sad, some saw it as a sign of weakness, others saw it as a means of escape. While some will never fully understand what would make someone who seems to be successful, popular, rich, or just seem to have it together, commit such an act.

In the late 1990s one of my favourite singer, Phyllis Hyman committed suicide. Phyllis had reasonable success and for years, in my teenage mind, I could not fathom how a big-big superstar could do something like that. However, as I grew and saw how difficult life can get, I can somehow understand why someone would take that route.

So what truly causes suicide?

Suicide and suicidal behaviors usually occur in people with one or more of the following:

• Bipolar disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Depression
• Drug or alcohol use
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia
• Stressful life issues, such as serious financial or relationship problems

I recently came across an article on the internet that states that the time spent on popular social media, Facebook can lead to depression and or narcissistic tendencies https://guardianlv.com/2013/08/facebook-causes-depression-new-study-says/

Suicide is the second most common killer of university students in America (surpassed only by vehicular accidents). It’s estimated that 1.5 students out of every 100 will commit suicide at some point during their college career. Depression is cited as a major factor, as well as anxiety. Suicide rates among college students have increased by 200 percent since the 1950s. https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/09/18/college-drove-me-to-the-brink-of-suicide/

It is human to want to fit in, to belong to feel love and appreciated. We all want to know we have a safe haven where we can retreat to be embraced for who we are, be refreshed and be appreciated for who we are.  When that feeling is not met, some people will resort to committing suicide.

Causes

Suicide and suicidal behaviors usually occur in people with one or more of the following:

• Bipolar disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Depression
• Drug or alcohol use
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia
• Stressful life issues, such as serious financial or relationship problems

People who try to commit suicide are often trying to get away from a situation that seems impossible to deal with. Many who make a suicide attempt are seeking relief from:

• Feeling ashamed, guilty, or like a burden to others
• Feeling like a victim
• Feelings of rejection, loss, or loneliness

Suicidal behaviors may occur when there is a situation or event that the person finds overwhelming, such as:

• Aging (the elderly have the highest rate of suicide)
• Death of a loved one
• Drug or alcohol use
• Emotional trauma
• Serious physical illness
• Unemployment or money problems

Risk factors for suicide in teenagers include:

• Access to guns
• Family member who committed suicide
• History of hurting themselves on purpose
• History of being neglected or abused
• Living in communities where there have been recent outbreaks of suicide in young people
• Romantic breakup

Most suicide attempts do not result in death. Many of these attempts are done in a way that makes rescue possible. These attempts are often a cry for help.

Some people attempt suicide in a way that is less likely to be fatal, such as poisoning or overdose. Men are more likely to choose violent methods, such as shooting themselves. As a result, suicide attempts by men are more likely to result in death.

Relatives of people who attempt or commit suicide often blame themselves or become very angry. They may see the suicide attempt as selfish. However, people who try to commit suicide often mistakenly believe that they are doing their friends and relatives a favor by taking themselves out of the world.

Symptoms

Often, but not always, a person may show certain signs and behaviors before a suicide attempt, such as:

• Having trouble concentrating or thinking clearly
• Giving away belongings
• Talking about going away or the need to “get my affairs in order”
• Suddenly changing behavior, especially calmness after a period of anxiety
• Losing interest in activities they used to enjoy
• Self-destructive behaviors, such as heavily drinking alcohol, using illegal drugs, or cutting their body
• Pulling away from friends or not wanting to go out
• Suddenly having trouble in school or work
• Talking about death or suicide, or even saying that they want to hurt themselves
• Talking about feeling hopeless or guilty
• Changing sleep or eating habits
• Arranging ways to take their own life (such as buying a gun or many pills)

Treatment

People who are at risk of suicidal behavior may not seek treatment for many reasons, including:

• They believe nothing will help
• They do not want to tell anyone they have problems
• They think asking for help is a sign of weakness
• They do not know where to go for help

People who try to commit suicide may need to stay in a hospital for treatment and to reduce the risk of future attempts. Therapy is one of the most important parts of treatment.

Any mental health disorder that may have led to the suicide attempt should be evaluated and treated. This includes:

• Bipolar disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Drug or alcohol dependence
• Major depression
• Schizophrenia

Always take suicide attempts and threats seriously.

Outlook (Prognosis)

About one-third of people who try to commit suicide will try again within 1 year. About 10% of people who threaten or try to commit suicide will eventually kill themselves.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call a health care provider right away if you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide. The person needs mental health care right away. Do not dismiss the person as just trying to get attention.

Prevention

Avoiding alcohol and drugs (other than prescribed medicines) can reduce the risk of suicide.

In homes with children or teenagers:

• Keep all prescription medicines high up and locked.
• Do not keep alcohol in the home or keep it locked up.
• Do not keep guns in the home. If you do keep guns in the home, lock them and keep the bullets separate.

Never ignore a suicide threat or attempted suicide.

Questions that we can look at:-

1. Is suicide a sign of weakness?
2. How do you think that you would deal with a loved one committing suicide?

1. Is the reason behind committing suicide important?

1. People have solicited the help of others to commit suicide, do you:

1. Agree with this
2. Would you assist someone in committing suicide (with knowledge that they will have to come back this realm because they would have failed this test)