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Underlying Mental Illness is Not the Only Cause of Suicide and Suicide Attempts.

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Underlying Mental Illness is Not the Only Cause of Suicide and Suicide Attempts

Question:

Should suicide and suicide attempts inherently and automatically be considered evidence of

underlying mental illness?

Suicide continues to be one of the most persistent and troubling public health worries or

concerns in present society. It has been recognized as the primary cause of death globally.

Brådvik (2018) states that the worldwide suicide mortality rate quantities to 1.4% of all deaths

worldwide. According to Cha et al. (2018), roughly 800,000 people die through suicide globally,

making suicide attempts even more. In the United States, around 40,000 persons die of suicide

annually (Fehling &Selby, 2021). Most suicide and suicide attempts correlate to psychiatric

diseases such as psychosis, depression, dementia, and bipolar disorder. However, not all suicide

occurs due to mental illness but due to various reasons. Suicide and suicide attempts occur in all

age groups, which warrant numerous concerns. Each age group commits suicide because of

different reasons from the other. Therefore, while mental illness is the most commonly cited risk

factor for suicide, this assignment will argue that suicide and suicide attempts should not

inherently and automatically be considered evidence of underlying mental illness. Apart from

psychological factors, suicide and suicide attempts are also caused by biological and

environmental factors.

Suicide and suicide attempts should not automatically and inherently be considered

evidence of underlying mental illness because they can also be caused by biological factors such

as familial causes. Genetics influences suicide as portrayed by research from adoption, twin, and

family studies (Fehling & Selby, 2021). If individuals come from a family with a suicide history,

they are more vulnerable to these problems. Rates of familial suicide are double in people who
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die by suicide than persons who die by other reasons (Qaddoura et al., 2022). Also, twin studies

of different methods showed the genetic influence on suicide. These studies sound that dizygotic

twins have lower completed and attempted suicide attempt compared to monozygotic twins

(Pedersen & Fiske, 2010). In adoption studies, Pedersen and Fiske (2010) found that a child

adopted in a non-suicidal household might attempt suicide compared to a non-adopted child. It

shows that the adopted child's family is more likely to have a history of suicide. Thus, genes play

a noteworthy role in suicidal attempts and completed suicide.

Also, familial factors such as poor communication is a significant cause of increased

suicide rates. Families with poor communication cannot talk about a problem, which leads to

conflicts between them, affecting both the children and parents (Bilsen, 2018). This is because

these families have issues solving and dealing with problems as a family. As a result, these

families are likely to end up with domestic violence or parents divorcing, which is associated

with suicide in divorced adults and their children (Bilsen, 2018). As much as violence is a

familial factor, it also influences mental health of an individual (Savelli, 2022). As a result, they

might develop suicide ideation. Both parties are more likely to feel neglected, as the children feel

neglected by their parents. In contrast, divorced adults might develop suicidal ideation, attempt,

or complete suicide due to socio-economic and financial implications, especially if living in as a

single parent (Bilsen, 2018). The adults might also feel neglected by their partners. Thus, the

absence and neglect of communication significantly impact families.

In addition, apart from mental illness, environmental factors are proved to influence

suicide. In youth, several practices of childhood maltreatment, for instance, emotional, physical,

and sexual harassment or abuse, are probable causes of suicide and suicide attempts (Cha et al.,

2018). Individuals who have experienced sexual and physical abuse are more likely to develop
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low self-esteem. They might develop feelings of hopelessness as they blame themselves for what

happened to them (Cha et al., 2018). The feeling of hopelessness is derived from the thoughts

that they cannot undo what happened to them and that the person who abused them is still

moving on with their lives. It is most common in adolescents and young youth because they are

at the age of understanding themselves. If an individual was sexually abused when young, they

are more likely to find it hard to be in a relationship with anyone due to feelings of helplessness

and low self-esteem. As a result, they might develop suicide ideation, and if they do not get

therapy, most attempt or complete suicide.

Furthermore, strong evidence shows that bullying (peer victimization) is a major risk

factor for completed and attempted suicide among young youth and adolescents. Bullying entails

repeated intentionally disturbing or harmful behavior that invokes a power differential (Cha et

al., 2018). Bullying includes social seclusion, physical and verbal abuse, and coercion by peers

in early adolescence, which leads to suicide and attempted suicide in youth and adolescents. This

is the age when individuals build their identity, address new challenges, and establish self-

confidence. As a result, most young people attach great importance to being a part of their peers

and getting into new intimate relationships because they feel confident and secure (Bilsen, 2018).

However, if they experience peer rejection and relationship break-ups, they might develop

suicidal thoughts and eventually attempt or complete suicide if the feeling does not change. It is

the fifth cause among the causes of youth suicide (Bilsen, 2018). Therefore, similarly to mental

illnesses, bullying or peer victimization is a noteworthy cause for suicide among young youth

and adolescents.

Another consideration that should be examined as a cause for suicide and attempted

suicide is mass media. Adolescents aged between 15 and 19 years and young populations
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between 20 and 24 years old are majorly influenced by what they see on social media that some

of them attempt suicide while others complete suicide (Cha et al., 2018). Adolescents and young

youth spend most of their free time on social media in modern society. It is where they create

and meet new friends and effectively communicate with family and friends. However, social

media is linked with cyber-bullying. Cyberbullying can involve sending hurtful messages to

individuals or posting embarrassing videos or photos on social media. This practice lowers an

individual's self-esteem, leading to social isolation, stress, and poor academic performance

(Bilsen, 2018). While they have low self-esteem, they are exposed to graphic content that teaches

them about self-harm. As a result, a teenager is likely to develop suicide ideation or complete

suicide.

Additionally, according to Steele et al. (2018), research shows that suicide and complete

suicide are influenced by regret and defeat among the juvenile population. Crime leads to poor

decisions. These unhealthy choices often leave a load of regrets in an individual's wake. The

emotions of shame and guilt are hard to shake, as this population feels like their life is over and

are defeated in having a successful life. It commonly occurs if an individual is incarcerated for a

long time or if they have committed a crime in the past, got pardoned, and are involved in crime

again (Steele et al., 2018). With the weight of feelings of regret and failure in their hearts,

juveniles might find it challenging to live a happy life. They feel like they can never live a happy

and successful life, so they decide to end their lives.

Moreover, substance abuse disorders, especially alcohol addiction, are major risk factors

in suicide victims, especially adults. Steele et al. (2018) explain that drug abuse influences

suicide attempts and complete suicide because these individuals mostly become overwhelmed

with emotions of helplessness and hopelessness that they will never overcome their addiction.
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These individuals develop these feelings due to various reasons such as job loss, health issues,

financial issues, and broken relationships. When these problems pile up, most of them indulge

more in substance abuse as a coping mechanism instead of fighting addiction. This leads to

unhappiness due to feelings of sadness and distress (Steele et al., 2018). Substance abuse usually

blocks memories from their past life, leading to more stress. When they are unhappy, these

people are in a pit of despair and feel like they cannot escape their situation. Also, addiction is

isolating because it is consumed with withdrawal, cravings, and focus on the next fix, making it

hard to connect with other people. In such cases, addicts might feel like no one understands their

pain and struggles. They might also feel ashamed about their disorder and isolate themselves

from friends and family. Therefore, it is hard for them to believe that their situation is mendable

when they try to overcome addiction with all these problems piled up. As a result, most of them

are likely to attempt suicide, while some succeed.

More so, suicide due to medical comorbidities in the elderly plays a significant role in

influencing suicide among this population. According to Steele et al. (2018), the elderly might

feel hopeless and isolated due to their medical problems. At an elderly age, this population might

prefer death to live with health issues that doctors cannot cure. What worsens suicidal ideation is

if they do not have the income to take care of themselves. In such cases, they live under the care

of their children or family members who might mistreat them for their age. They might only be

lonely if their family members do not spend quality time with them. As a result, this population

is likely to feel like a burden to their families. Therefore, they are more likely to attempt or

complete suicide.

In conclusion, suicide and suicide attempts are not only results of underlying mental

illness, and thus, this should not be automatically and inherently considered as the cause if an
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individual attempts suicide. There are many reasons people attempt suicide, including biological,

environmental, and social factors. Young people are likely to be vulnerable to suicidal ideation,

attempt, and complete suicide due to social media, childhood maltreatment, and familial history

of suicide. Other populations like the elderly might commit suicide due to medical comorbidities,

hopelessness, and loneliness. Substance abuse addicts are influenced by being unhappy and

feeling like they can never overcome their addiction. Therefore, these factors show that when an

individual attempt completes suicide, it should be ruled as a mental illness. Instead, people

should consider other causes. Not everyone who commits suicide is mentally ill. If an individual

attempts suicide, it is vital to evaluate the risk factor to understand the type of help they need to

heal from the occurrence and prevent future attempts.

References

Bilsen, J. (2018). Suicide and youth: risk factors. Frontiers in psychiatry, 540. DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00540

Brådvik, L. (2018). Suicide risk and mental disorders. International journal of environmental

research and public health, 15(9), 2028. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15092028

Cha, C. B., Franz, P. J., M. Guzmán, E., Glenn, C. R., Kleiman, E. M., & Nock, M. K. (2018).

Annual Research Review: Suicide among youth–epidemiology,(potential) etiology, and

treatment. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 59(4), 460-482. DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12831

Fehling, K. B., & Selby, E. A. (2021). Suicide in DSM-5: Current evidence for the proposed

Suicide Behavior Disorder and other possible improvements. Frontiers in psychiatry,

1658. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.499980

Pedersen, N. L., & Fiske, A. (2010). Genetic influences on suicide and nonfatal suicidal

behavior: twin study findings. European Psychiatry, 25(5), 264-267. DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2009.12.008

Savelli, M. (2022). Lecture 6: Place, space, and mental health

Steele, I. H., Thrower, N., Noroian, P., & Saleh, F. M. (2018). Understanding suicide across the

lifespan: a United States perspective of suicide risk factors, assessment &

management. Journal of forensic sciences, 63(1), 162-171. DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13519

Qaddoura, N., Dardas, L. A., & Pan, W. (2022). Psychosocial determinants of adolescent

suicide: A national survey. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 40, 15-24. DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2022.04.004
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