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17
SUICIDE

In 1962 there were 11 which is 1.6% of all causes of death, and which
was in fact, together with those due to accidents, the fourth largest cause
following after those due to Cancer, Diseases of the Heart and Blood Vessels
and Chest Diseases. It accounted for more deaths than Tuberculosis,
Poliomyelitis, Measles, Whooping Cough and Diphtheria and Smallpox all grouped
together, and to this total must be added the number of attempted suicides
which is probably at least twice as many again.
The passing of the Suicide Act, 1961, an Act about which many people are
unaware, now means that an attempt to commit suicide is no longer a criminal
offence. Whether this will in any way increase the numbers attempting
suicide is probably most unlikely,but the actual figures for attempted suicide
may well rise as both Coroners and also hospital doctors will be less inclined
to shield the diagnosis now that the legal stigma has been removed.
There are many reasons why a person may wish to end his life and of
course a high percentage of those attempting suicide really have no intention
of actually dying but rely on someone saving them in time and then gaining
solace from the increased attention that they receive during and after their
recovery. Recent work has shown however that suicides may be divided roughly
into the following classes: those due to some sudden shock or bereavement;
those due to true mental illness, most commonly of a depressive nature; old
people suffering from loneliness together with an actual or imagined disease;
and, finally, a group which is becoming more appreciated, namely those who
commit suicide when suffering from some ordinary physical illness not
necessarily of a serious nature.
Prevention is indeed difficult, but if the possibility of suicide were
born in mind by everyone dealing with a person showing signs of depression,
or if families took more notice if one of their members showed signs of an
unexplained emotional abnormality and if more could be done to dispel
loneliness and boredom in old age, then probably many attempts could be
prevented and the patient put under suitable medical care.
Probably many of us know of suicides, who might never have taken their
lives if they had been able to discuss their problems (real or imaginary)
with someone they could trust. Sympathetic listening and a little time spent
with them could quite probably have prevented many such tragedies, which
involve not only the person concerned but also his family and friends.