Suicide is defined as the act of intentionally ending one's own life. Emile Durkheim provided an elaborate definition stating it is a positive or negative act done by the victim that is known to result in death. Suicide can be caused by biopsychosocial factors like mood disorders or relationship issues, environmental losses, or socio-cultural isolation. Common suicide methods include firearms, poisoning, and hanging. Treatment involves counseling, medical intervention, and family support. Social workers play an important role in prevention through education, counseling, and advocacy.

1. By Rhea Cheryl Shivan

2. DEFINITION
Derives from the Latin words “Sue” which means “of oneself” and “Cide” or “Cidium”
which means “a killing”.
The 1973 edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica defined Suicide as “The Human act of self-
inflicted, self-intentioned cessation”.
However Emile Durkheim gave a more elaborate definition in 1897 stating that “The term
suicide is applied to all cases of death resulting directly or indirectly from a positive or a
negative act of the victim himself which he knows will produce this result”.

3. DIMENSIONS OF
SUICIDE
Jack Douglas outlined the fundamental dimensions of suicide in 1967. Those dimensions
include:
• The invitation of an act that leads to the death of the initiator.
• The willing of an act that leads to the death of the willer.
• The willing of Self-destruction.
• The loss of will.
• The motivation to be dead or to die which leads to the initiation of the act which in turn
leads to the death of the initiator.
• The knowledge of the actor that actions he initiates tend to produce the objective state of
death.

4. TYPES OF SUICIDEEmile Durkheim classified different types of suicides on the basis of different types of relationship
between the initiator and his society.
(1) Egoistic suicide:
According to Durkheim, when a man becomes socially isolated or feels that he has no place in the society
he destroys himself. This is the suicide of self-centred person who lacks altruistic feelings and is usually
cut off from main stream of the society.
(2) Altruistic suicide:
This type of suicide occurs when individuals and the group are too close and intimate. This kind of
suicide results from the over integration of the individual into social proof, for example - Sati customs.
(3) Anomic suicide:
This type of suicide is due to certain breakdown of social equilibrium, such as, suicide after bankruptcy
or after winning a lottery. In other words, anomic suicide takes place in a situation which has cropped up
suddenly.
(4) Fatalistic suicide:
This type of suicide is due to overregulation in society. Under the overregulation of a society, when a
servant or slave commits suicide, when a barren woman commits suicide, it is the example of fatalistic
suicide.

5. CAUSES
Causes can be classified in three categories namely Biopsychosocial, Environmental, and Socio-cultural.
BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL CAUSES:
• Mood disorders
• Schizophrenia
• Anxiety disorders
• Personality Disorders
• Substance abuse
• Bullying
• Physical Abuse
• Family history of suicide
• Unsuccessful suicide attempt
• Chronic disease
ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES usually stems from Loss. Loss here refers to loss of a loved one, a pet or a job…
Other causes may include social loss, access to lethal means, …
SOCIO-CULTURAL CAUSES stems from the feeling of being isolated or not being accepted by others. Isolation can
be caused by sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and gender identity. Difficulty seeking help, not having access to
mental health care or treatment for abuse, following belief systems that accept suicide as a solution to end problems,
and exposure to suicidal behaviour are some of the other catalysts that come under this category.

6. METHODSHANGING
GUNSHOT
DRUG/ALCOHOL OVERDOSE
POISONING
SLITTING WRISTS
ELECTROCUTION
JUMPING OFF BUILDINGS
SELF-EMOLATION
DROWNING
THROWING ONSELF IN FRONT OF MOVING VEHICLES
EXPLOSIVES

7. TREATMENT
It involves a combination of :
On going psychological counselling (psychotherapy and family and marital
counselling…)
Medical intervention ( like treatment for addiction or prescribing antidepressants,
treat wounds if attempt failed)
Psychiatric Treatment for mental disorders and illnesses
Family Support and Education

8. ROLE OF A SOCIAL
WORKER• Recognizing symptoms
• Looking out for potential risks
• Counselling (for individuals)
• Group counselling (peer counselling, family counselling, couples counselling…)
• Research
• Advocating for rights of victims to help them get better access to quality mental healthcare treatment
• Disseminating information via mass media, creating awareness, carrying out prevention programs, …
• Start up Help lines
• Cognitive behavioural therapy.

9. INDIAN STATS
In 2012, India accounted for the highest estimated number of suicide cases in the world
according to WHO
2,58,075 People (99,977 men and 1,58,098 women) committed suicide in India in 2012. (One
suicide case for every 40 seconds)
Most suicide cases occur in Low and middle class families.
Pondicherry accounts for the highest estimated number of suicide cases in the country.
Reasons behind these suicides stem from family issues, financial issues, “love failures” and
illnesses.
Pondicherry colleges were asked to submit reports on students who committed suicide.

11. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Shneidman E., (1985). “Definition of Suicide”.Maryland,United States of America: The Rowman
& Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc,.
Bhatt A. “What are the types of suicide given by Durkheim”. Retrieved on September 19th , 2014
from
http://www.preservearticles.com/201101173440/types-of-suicide-given-by-durkheim.html
Kahn A. (2012). “Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour”. Retrieved on September 19th , 2014 from
http://www.healthline.com/health/suicide-and-suicidal-behavior#Treatment5
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Suicide and Suicidal Thoughts” Retrieved on September 19th , 2014 from
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/suicide/basics/treatment/con-20033954
Author Unknown. (Sept. 4th, 2014). “India has highest number of suicides in the world: WHO”.
Retrieved on September 19th , 2014 from
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-has-highest-number-of-suicides-in-the-world-
WHO/articleshow/41708567.cms
Kishore. K.(Sept. 11th, 2013). ‘High suicide rate spurs need for intervention programme”.
Retrieved on September 19th , 2014 from
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/high-suicide-rate-spurs-need-for-
intervention-programme/article5113450.ece