Suicide

1. Suicide The Comparisons between Suicide Rates in Lithuania and the United States

2. What is Suicide? • Suicide is when a person intentionally kills themselves. • This is a huge global issue and almost every year, one million people die from suicide around the world. • In some countries, suicide is one of the top three causes of death for people who are between the ages of fifteen and forty-four. • In 1998, suicide worldwide was estimated to stand for 1.8% of the total global burden of disease.

3. Facts about Suicide One person commits suicide every 40 seconds. Suicidal rates have increased by 5-62% in the past two decades. Suicide is more popular amongst the ages of 10 – 24.

4. In the US, the suicide rates of 2005 topped the list with 39th place worldwide and remaining in this spot on the list today. Their rates were 11.1 per 100,000 people. In Lithuania, the suicide rates of 2009 topped the suicide list at number 1 worldwide, making them the most suicidal country in the world today. Their rates were 31.5 per 100,000 people. Suicide Rates in the United States and in Lithuania

5. What causes people in these countries to commit Suicide? • People commit suicide for many reasons such as: • 1. Depression • 2. Financial Reasons • 3. Family/Personal issues • 4. Mental illnesses • 5. Abuse

6. Why do people in the US commit suicide? • People in the United States commit suicide mainly due to financial stress. This has proven by research that states about 3-4 men kill themselves as compared to 1 woman. This is a huge piece of evidence because in American society men normally carry the economical burdens more than women, causing them to take on more pressure in their personal lives causing them to commit suicide. Another piece of evidence is the American economic depression which we have been experiencing over the past four years.

7. Why do people in Lithuania commit suicide? • People in countries as young as Lithuania tend to feel as though there is no hope left. Research has been conducted on suicide in countries such as Lithuania, Hungary, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus which all have the highest suicidal rates worldwide. Also, 5-6 men in these countries commit suicide as compared to 1 women. • Other reasons people in Lithuania commit suicide are for financial or personal issues. Countries such as Lithuania and Ukraine economic systems aren’t as stabilized which indirectly causes citizens to feel helpless because they may not have the privilege to have a steady salary or form of income to support not only themselves but their families.

8. United States Its more developed and stabilized than Lithuania. Social problems differ from Lithuania. Financial circumstances also differ. It has more resources allowing it to help people from doing things such as committing suicide. Lithuania Less developed than the United States. Culture is different causing the social problems to be different. Financial circumstances differ because they aren't as stabilized as the United States. The lack of resources makes it hard for people to prevent suicide from occurring and from knowing the warning signs of a suicidal person. Why do the Suicide rates in the US differ from Lithuania?

9. Actions towards preventing suicide in Lithuania • Organizations have been created such as the Lithuanian Mercy lift. The Lithuanian Mercy Lift helps to prevent people from committing suicide by informing them that help is available through the access of a phone or a click away on the computer. • There are few more associations and organizations like this one but the problem is that not all people can either afford to access this information through the computer or phone or they simply aren’t that help does exists. Since, some suicidal victims do not have access to help they tend to feel not only hopeless but helpless. • The Lithuanian police try to keep on top of keeping people from committing suicide but they can not do it by themselves they need more help from medical officials. The reason for this is because most people who try to commit suicide need either counseling or to be placed on a helpful medication.

10. Here is a video about suicide in Lithuania http://www.insightnewstv.com/d74/

11. Organizations have also been created to help make people aware of suicide and it affects. Walks called Out of the Darkness take place in places such as NYC and Boston. These walks are sponsored by an organization called American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The AFSP has a local headquarters in Manhattan where New Yorker’s can visit if they are in need of help or if they need any information. Actions towards Preventing Suicide in the United States

12. Another Organization called the Suicide Prevention Action Network USA helps Americans in the fight against Suicide by having group talks, creating an alliance for research progress towards the fight against suicide. They are very informative allowing people to access information on suicide in their state and how they can prevent themselves and others from committing suicide. The USA has a national suicide prevention hotline to help those who may know a suicidal person or who may be suicidal. Actions towards Preventing Suicide in the United States

13. Actions to prevent Suicide inNew York State • In New York state there are several efforts to help teens and adults to realize that suicide is not the answer. But one profound attempt is called Speak (suicide prevention education awareness kit). Speak is an information kit designed for the public by NYS. Its purpose is to help New Yorkers including doctors and educators understand the terrible frequency and toll of suicide, and to discover ways and methods to aid in preventing suicide.

14. Is suicide preventive? • Yes it is!!

15. How can you help to prevent someone from committing suicide • You can prevent another person from suicide by educating yourself on the warning signs of a suicidal person and by learning the suicide prevention resources available to you in your community. You can also inform the suicidal person of the affects that there actions may have on their loved ones. When a person is suicidal one of the best things to do is to make them feel comfortable. The reason for this is because many people seek for help before they decide to commit suicide. By you making this person comfortable, they may open up to you possibly helping them to solve the issue they are facing that is causing them to feel as though suicide is the ONLY answer to their problem.

16. Some warning signs are: Talking about Suicide Finding ways to harm oneself Withdrawing from others Preparing for death Expressing hopelessness Other warning signs are: Previously attempted to commit suicide Acting in a destructive manner Depression Giving away prized possessions Sudden personality changes Warning signs of a suicidal person =/

17. September 10th Its held by the International Association of Suicide Prevention in hopes of helping to prevent suicide worldwide. World Suicide Prevention Day

18. World Suicide Prevention Day The purpose of this day is to: • To strengthen worldly awareness of Suicide • To improve education about Suicide • To educate people in communities about suicide • To decrease suicide attempts • To pay tribute to those who took their lives