THE SCIENCES

“Suicidology” is the scientific study of suicidal behavior, the causes of suicidal ideation, and suicide prevention.
“Epidemiology” is the branch of medicine that deals with the incidence, distribution, and possible control of diseases and other factors relating to health.

Epidemiology of Suicide is the study of the epidemic of suicide.

With the number of suicides in most countries being higher than the number of homicides, it became necessary to delve into why so many people were choosing to take their own life.

The Epidemiology of Suicide looks closely into certain factors to gather data related to suicide. These include:

• Geographical Locations

• Sex

• Race

• Sexual Orientation

• Religion

• Social Factors

• Health

• Seasons

• Trends

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS

Statistics on Suicide are gathered worldwide. Studies show patterns for each country and offer data for comparison. Some geographical studies take into consideration various “GUN LAWS” because guns are a major method of suicide. 

SEX
Epidemiologists have revealed that In the United States, males are four times more likely to die by suicide than females.

 Women report 3 times more suicide attempts and self-harm with suicidal intentions however Male suicide rates are far higher than females in all age groups (the ratio varies from 3:1 to 10:1).

RACE

Race and Sexual orientation are areas of interest for Epidemiologist.

In the United States, whites and Asians were nearly 2.5 times more likely to kill themselves than were blacks or Mexicans.

The likelihood of suicide attempts is higher in both gay males and lesbians, as well as bisexuals of both sexes when compared to their heterosexual counterparts.*

RELIGION

In contrast to countries world-wide, nations with a primarily atheist population such as China have the highest suicide rate

SOCIAL FACTORS

Suicide levels are highest among people who are

• retired

• unemployed,

• impoverished 

• divorced

• childless

• urbanites

• empty nesters

• and other people who live alone

HEALTH

Although Depression and unipolar disorders are common causes, there is an unknown number of suicidal fatalities that are incorrectly thought to be the consequences of severe illnesses, infectious, malignant, or mental.

One study shows that the risk of suicide actually decreases with increased body mass index.

SEASONS

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is type of depression which happens during certain seasons of the year—most often fall or winter. It is thought that shorter days and less daylight may trigger a chemical change in the brain leading to symptoms of depression.

Light therapy and antidepressants can help treat SAD There is the notion that more people commit suicide during the winter holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year is not true. The National Center for Health Statistics found that suicides drop during the winter months, and peak during spring and early summer.

Mental illness is present at the time of suicide almost 27% to 97% of the time.

Medical statistics say that half of all people who die by suicide may suffer from a major depressive disorder. Having this type of mental issue combined with one of the other mood disorders such as bipolar disorder increases the risk of suicide 20-fold.

Epidemiologists estimate that about half of people who die by suicide may suffer from a personality disorder, with borderline personality disorder being the most common.

Among approximately 80% of suicides, the individual has seen a physician within the year before their death and even more disturbing is that approximately 25–40% of those who died by suicide had contact with mental health services in the prior year.

TRENDS

Social media trends, violence in films television, and music can be contributing factors to suicide.

In the 1930s, Time Magazine and the New York Times published reports on suicides and attempted suicides in the US connected to a popular song of the time called “Gloomy Sunday.”  The song was banned on in the UK until 2002, and certain outlets in the US refused to play the song, fearing it was somehow responsible for creating suicidal ideation.