...Citizen produced a small article titled ‘The Suicide Epidemic,’ detailing a local bit of news about the recent rise in both attempted and successful suicides. With an uncanny ability of vivid descriptions with only forty three words at their disposal, the article describes that numerous cases of suicide, or attempted suicide, were reported on Monday (the same day as the publication). It goes on to list both the types of people this epidemic was associated with and how they went about committing these acts. All of the ‘humbler’ part of society, these people ended their lives through hangings and more colourfully by ‘[laying himself] down on the railway’ and being decapitated by an oncoming train....
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...her activities during school hours and after school so she knew it was someone at her school. Her parents went to the principal with the problem, but the school did nothing about it. She received an e-mail stating, “I am not going to put you in the hospital; I am going to put you in the morgue.” After receiving this e-mail she committed suicide on October 9, 2006. Many of the children that take their own lives have bullies that don’t understand that their “words hurt”. (Neblett, 2010). Rachael was not the only life that was lost in that year. She had two friends Kristin Settles, (Settles, 2010) and Karissa Smith, (Smith, 2010) that took their own lives after Rachael did. The three teens all went to the same high school and was known as “The Three Musketeers.” Bullying has caused this community so much heart ache and pain that we as human beings need to step in and try to stop another child from making a choice that can never be taken back. Real life stories like Rachael’s, Kristin’s, and Karissa’s are becoming more and more common and are great loss for many people. As people, we have the power to stop this expanding epidemic by watching our words. We need to learn to respect everyone equally. It will take time to fix this problem, but by punishing the one’s doing this is a great start. All three students...
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...Most of us can hardly imagine the suffering in the wake of the death of a young person but when this death is because of suicide the pain is even more compounding as there is no explanation. The reason why someone decides to take their own life still remains a mystery, the community are still disturbingly unaware of the prevalence of youth suicide until they experience it themselves. Although something can be done, with the introduction of suicide prevention programs to the Australian Curriculum, the education departments and its bodies would be seen as doing more towards the prevention of suicide. Youth suicide is the most concerning area of suicide and its destruction of young life has implications for the long-term affairs of our community. The Australian government identified this and in the 1995/96 commonwealth budget provided substantial funding, $13 million dollars with a combined total of $31 million by 1999. This initial funding lead to the creation of the National Youth Prevention Strategy administered by Department of Health with emphasis on promotion, prevention and early intervention. (Living is for everyone, 2008, p. 7) Since then many agencies have been proactively targeting youth suicide. In 2000 the National Youth Prevention Strategy expanded into Life is for Everyone (LIFE). LIFE is a world-class suicide and self-harm prevention resource. Dedicated to providing the best available evidence and resources to guide activities aimed at reducing the rate at which...
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...Running head: TEEN SUICIDE IS AN EPIDEMIC Teen Suicide October 20, 2012 Introduction Every year, thousands of youth die in the Unites States and one million worldwide. Not from cancer or motor vehicle accidents by their own hand. For whatever reason they make that choice that they no longer want to live, and they take their own life. According to statistic, suicide has been known to be the third leading cause of death for young persons between the age of fifteen to twenty-four years; and it is the eleventh cause of death for persons of all ages in the United States. Many people think these are remote incidents, but they are not. Teen suicide is an epidemic that keeps on growing on daily basis. According to the estimate by the center for disease and prevention, annually, over five hundred thousand teenagers from age 15 to 24 will attempt to kill themselves and about five thousand of these teenagers succeeded (National Institute of Mental Health, 2002). Theses estimate indicated that the number of teenagers that committed suicide (five thousand) is synonymous to the number of people whom the cause of death was cancer or homicide. The number of teenagers, who committed suicide over the years, has outnumbered the number of teenagers who were killed by homicides by at least ratio three to two. That is ridiculous! To some people it sound unbelievable but as we continue to read various articles and continue to expose these occurrences on the internet...
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...When something big happens unexpectedly, people respond in different ways. Anything small can impact something big. In the book, The Tipping Point, small expected and unexpected events lead to significant changes. This book by Malcolm Gladwell contains numerous examples of how little things can make big differences. Significant changes can occur from the slightest of impacts; these impacts can be caused intentionally, can be caused unintentionally, and, in the end, can cause epidemics. Minor, unintentional events can have big impacts on a society. First, sometimes events happen accidentally and cause big changes, like the flu for example. Gladwell states,“The ones causing the epidemic to grow —the ones who were infecting two and three and...
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...country’s social and political climate. This age of restless transformation led to the realization of a new cultural phenomenon: suicide. Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina supports the notion that a national suicide “epidemic”, as the journalists of the time interpreted the statistics, was a by-product of the decomposing societal and moral order produced by the inception of material progress. Furthermore, Anna Karenina mirrors the “cultural institution” of suicide that erupted in the 1860’s and offers a realistic, albeit fictional, representation of the suicide phenomenon regarding both peasants and nobles. Leo Tolstoy, through use of railroads as a symbol in Anna Karenina, shared views similar with his contemporaries on the negative impact of material progress on the mental health of Russian society. Approximately 30 years before the reforms of the 1860’s, an Englishman who traveled to St. Petersburg, Thomas Raikes, Esq., commented that Russians had not yet experienced the progress of civilization that accounted for the misery leading to suicide. At the time, Russians were not yet privy to the amount of responsibility over their social and political conditions as they would be when the reforms took place, therefore they still lived free of the passion and anguish which reforms promised to bring. But, progress could not be avoided and neither could the culture of suicide that followed it. Progress unveiled all the inadequacies of life to the Russian people, leading to their thirst for “more”...
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...STDs, behavior while eating, smoking and drinking, and contagious suicide are examples have the ability to be both directly and indirectly connected. One harmless connection can cause a chain reaction, and before long many more people are involved. A connection between two people may seem insignificant; however, these connections cause others to experience similar situations. Connections in Sexual Relations Sexual relations are a form of connection. One person may have relations with one person, who has relations with another person, and so on. This type of connection is an indirect connection, meaning a couple’s friends’ friends’ friend can affect the original couple. STD’s are spread indirectly through a community. Supposing that couples follow the no-partner-swapping rule then theoretically, a person could contract an STD from another person through five connections. These different connections referred to as networks. These different networks can range anywhere from a high school setting, to an entire community. It is thought that the “core” of the network is made up of the sexually active individuals; relations between two people in the core continue to sustain the epidemic. The outer portion of the network, or the periphery, consists of the less sexually active people (Christakis and Fowler, 2009, p.102). Through connections between people and sexual relations, STDs have become an epidemic and spread from one person to another through indirect...
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...School bullying is an epidemic that surrounds elementary, middle and high schools all over America and the world and it should be punished accordingly. Here in the United States it has really taken a toll on our teenagers. Many lives have been lost due to suicide, depression, and low-morale. Bullying can disguise itself as pushing, shoving, name-calling, mean rumors, teasing, and violence. This can be damaging to an individual and cause great harm. Bullying is negative behavior that needs to stop because, as adults we need to intervene and set things right. Bullying, the different kinds, and the rise in cyber bullying are all important because students are abused, threatened and victimized on a daily basis. Bullying is unwanted,...
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...To: Mayor Eric Garcetti Date: November 19, 2015 Subject: Veteran Suicide Prevention in California (Nationwide) ______________________________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: “All I ever considered when I thought about suicide was the guilt I was feeling and just wanting a way out, wanting to not have those memories anymore,” said Clinton Hall, 35, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as an infantryman and now lives in Portland, Ore. His friend and fellow soldier killed himself shortly after returning home. An epidemic is raging among us and some of us have no idea the problem sits next to the very flag of freedom we encounter throughout our day. Suicide is one of the many causes of death for American military forces. A research project in 2012 reported in Times Magazine regarding active duty members of the military, shows a surprising 349 veterans took their own lives; more than the death from combat operations that year. The Veteran Affairs Department estimates that 22 vets die by their own hand every day. For a veteran, the sound of a firework can spark a flashback of war; while shopping at the aisles of the super market, a veteran may suddenly feel the need to seek cover as it reminds him of being ambushed in Iraq or Afghanistan. The reality is that our patriots are leaving one battle and returning home to another. Some veterans feel ostracized, others are homelessness, have become drug addict,, and are unemployed. These problems relate to...
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...is a worldwide epidemic (Kalman) that kids from all ages have to deal with. There may be laws in place, but if you ask me they are not really doing their job. The laws may prohibit bullying, but they don’t address the problems that bullying causes such as suicide, mental problems, family problems, and school neglect. Studies say about 77% of student’s are bullied everyday weather it’s verbally or physically(Bullying Statistics), and about 14% of those students suffer from psychological problems(Bullying Statistics); like low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and even suicide(Bullying Statistics). Each day 160,000 students miss school because they’re afraid of being bullied(Bullying Statistics), also 1 out of 10 high school students drop out of school because they were bullied(How to stop Bullying). Schools often say they want to decrease the dropout rate, well if they take the time to acknowledge the bullying problem some of the numbers would decrease.. Not only does bullying affect the body, but it affects the mind as well. In 2002 at least 15 school children from the ages 11 to 14 committed suicide (Jeff Lett), and in 2005 270 school children from the ages 10 to 14 committed suicide (Jeff Lett). Every day children go to school with a constant fear. School should be a safe lace not a place of torture. Many students find school as a safe get away from home, but with the constant bullying they go from one bad place to another. This in many cases leads to suicide, because they...
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...arising from the society, economy and individuals are the three effects off addition to gambling. The changes in social values made by gambling addiction have influences on our social order. According to “Teen Gambling: Understanding a Growing Epidemic,” Derevensky (2012), when people cannot achieve their desire, money expenses for gambling will be increased so as to fulfill their desired excitement. This growing desire is unlimited, they may start borrowing loans to finance gambling. Through gambling, people may get lots of problems like bearing loans. There are cases that people cannot afford for the loan therefore they chose to commit suicide to avoid liabilities or to commit illegal activities including forgery, fraud or theft to get money. They may also seek for illegal gambling opportunities for extra excitement. Which will result in increasing illegal activities. These illegal activities and cases of committing suicide will lead to social disorder. There is possible economic recession when addition to gambling becomes general social problems. Being addicted to gambling takes people’s time on gambling rather than working. They may give up their job for extra time enjoying the games. In “Teen Gambling: Understanding a Growing Epidemic,” mentioned that gamblers lose their job, educational or career opportunities, becoming unskilled and being less competitive. When the gamblers lose money, most of them return to the casino again rather than stop gambling. This will...
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...Suicide and the Baby Boomer Generation Rob Kovack ITT Technical Institute Abstract The rate of suicide among white baby boomer men has increased dramatically from 1999 to 2010. Many professionals and academics have conducted extensive research to find a conclusion for this unexplained trend among the boomer generation. Professionals such as Dr. Phillips and Augustine J. Kposowa, have different theories that were determined by their own studies and research. The theories range from marital problems and social isolation to the economy and long-term unemployment. The CDC statics confirm that the causes of death are by firearms, suffocation, and poisoning. The increase of poisoning suicides has been due to prescription pain medication overdoses. Thomas Joiner believes in suicidal behaviors and characteristics in all ages and sex, not as a predisposed category of individuals. Leonard Steinhorn disagrees with the CDC statistics for the suicide rate in boomers and conveys his own research that was created by two doctors. Although, this chart contradicts the CDC statistics, it is also not as credible as a government agency that specifically analyzes suicide research on a daily basis. Suicide and the Baby Boomer Generation Suicide has been plaguing our society for decades and has no intention of declining any time soon. The latest Mortality Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a 30 percent increase in middle-aged Americans committing...
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...Book Review: The TIPPING POINT HOW LITTLE THINGS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE ByMalcolm Gladwell Table of Contents Introduction and Summary…………………………………………………………………… Page 2 Objectives of Study…………………………………………………………………………….Page 2 Method of Study…...………………………………………………………………………….. Page 2 Chapter wise summary and Critical Analyses……...…...…………………………………….. Page 3 Theoretical Framework………...……………………………………………………………… Page 6 Relating Theories to Practical Aspects……………………….……….………………………. Page 7 Learning and Conclusion…………………………………………………………………….... Page 9 “The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire. Just as a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a small but precisely targeted push cause a fashion trend, the popularity of a new product, or a drop in the crime rate.” -Malcolm Gladwell Introduction and Summary Malcolm Gladwell’s book The Tipping Pointis a compilation of compelling ideas and innovative thoughts in a field of study which so far had been considered mysterious and unquantifiable.The book challenges this premise and provides its readers with insights through real life examples and case studies which indicate how societies and individuals in a society can be influenced in order to tip ad existing trend and establish a new one. He decries the process with three key rules- the Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor, and the Power of Context, with...
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...in Native American adolescents has attempted suicide, a rate four times that of other teenagers, according to a study that found alarming health problems on reservations." Suicide has a big affect on Native American teens. Providing more awareness about teen health in the Native American culture, would result in a fewer teen suicide." Native American teenagers/ Youth are planning on taking their life's or they have already took their life's for many reasons. Out of all the races Native American/ Alaskan Natives have the highest risk for teen suicide. In the article " Teen Suicide Statistics" has noted that "77.9% of all suicide are male and females has attempted suicide 3 times as often as males, fire arms are used in 51% of males suicides, also 38% of females suicides are use drugs ( poising) as the method of suicide." Statistics like these have shown many times they have tried to commit suicide. Suicide very's from Native communities to other Native communities around Native country. So many Native people are overwhelmed to be going to funerals...
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...Suicide Amongst Youth November 21, 2013 INTRODUCTION Barry parr, a window cleaner in a small town, was working as usual in December 2001, not expecting anything interesting to happen. Suddenly, he heard a yell from afar and saw a 14 year old girl who was preparing to hang herself from a nearby tree. He showed signs of his incipient heroism as he quickly grabbed his ladder and ran across the road to try and talk her into retreating. He tried, and that was when she got real about committing suicide. As Barry started to climb up his ladder, the girl jumped off. Luckily, Barry was close enough and strong enough and he caught her in his arms, holding her high enough to save her life. Unfortunately, however, Barry was now in an unlucky situation. Barry was out on a cold winter day when people hardly walked by, and he had in his arms, a 14 year old girl who was trying really hard to squirm out of his grasp and kill herself. Barry held on to her for an entire hour before someone passed by and called the cops. The come eventually came and helped, but not before Barry had proven to the girl, how far the world was willing to go, to save her life and keep this one lonely girl around. Suicide is a tragic and preventable mental health problem. Suicide is irrational to those who are not suicidal, but to those who are, it is the only means of escape that there is. The reason most people consider suicide to be irrational is because suicide is a permanent solution to a problem which...
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