Introduction
Suicide is a major cause of death that has severe emotional and physical consequences on victims and their families. According to statistics, more than 1 million people kill themselves every year (James & Gilliland, 2012). In the last five decades, cases of suicide have increased by approximately 60%. It is a difficult issue to deal with because of its theoretical implications on religion, politics, law, and societal ethics. Ethical, moral, legal, religious, and philosophical discourses have not resolved the issue and have failed to come to an agreement as to whether suicide is acceptable or unacceptable.
The dynamics of suicide
Suicidal thinking emanates from sources that include loss of meaning in life, hopelessness, isolation, severe psychological pain, and unbearable suffering (Lester & Rogers, 2013). Psychological theories’ underlying argument is that suicide is primarily caused by weaknesses in personality and lack of proper coping skills. According to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, suicide is activated by an internal psychological conflict that emanates from exposure to prolonged periods of psychological stress (Lester & Rogers, 2013). On the other hand, developmental theory holds that individuals initiate self destruction due to their inability to cope well during various developmental stages that human beings undergo (James & Gilliland, 2012). Deficiency theory holds that mental inadequacies increase the risk of certain behaviors. Escapism views suicide as a way of evading unbearable situations that may be causing excruciating emotional pain. Karl Menninger expanded on Freud’s theory and argued that the three main reasons why people commit suicide include guilt, revenge, and hopelessness (Lester & Rogers, 2013). Suicidal people crave death in order to terminate the guilt they harbor in their hearts especially for being burdensome to their families. On the other hand, they wish to kill other people as a way of expressing their anger. According to Edwin Shneidman, suicide victims experience great psychological pain, loneliness, and are obsessed with the idea that death is the best solution to their pain and problems (Lester & Rogers, 2013).
Suicide and the moral dilemma
Suicide is a very complex legal, moral, ethical, religious, and philosophical dilemma that has elicited heated debates among scholars for many years. It can occur in many forms namely unassisted, assisted, or facilitated (Lester & Rogers, 2013). Assisted suicide is viewed as moral in several societies because in certain cases, it is initiated by the patient as a way of escaping suffering (James & Gilliland, 2012). However, it has been described as unethical because many individuals make decisions under great stress and pain, which render them irrational. Medical practitioners are guided by certain principles that empower them to deal with patients. These principles include autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Practitioners are supposed to respect the decision of the individual, do the greatest good possible in difficult situations, prevent or minimize harm, and maintain fairness (James, 2007). In certain circumstances, it is okay for patients to request assisted suicide if their pain is unbearable or if it causes great financial, emotional, and psychological strain on their families (Lester & Rogers, 2013). Killing individuals without their consent is unethical and illegal.
Characteristics of people who commit suicide
People who commit suicide exhibit several characteristics that range from mental cues to communication cues. Mental cues include poor focus, severe depression, insomnia, loss of rational thinking, feelings of abandonment and isolation, hopelessness and helplessness, self-hatred, loss of concentration, irritability, and aggression (James, 2007). Other characteristics include unbearable psychological pain, distress, and the need to end pain or suffering once and for all (Lester & Rogers, 2013).
Similarities between suicide and homicide
Research has shown that many suicidal individuals are also homicidal. More than 30% of all homicide cases involve suicide because of the psychological and emotional disturbances faced by involved parties. On the other hand, countless cases of suicide are committed by individuals with histories of aggression, self-destructive behavior, and violence (James, 2007). Analysis of homicide and suicide cases reveal the presence of motives, hopelessness, use of lethal means, some form of psychological pain, and aggression or loss of meaning in life (James, 2007).
The use of triage assessment form in addressing lethality
The triage assessment form is used to address lethality by collecting information to reveal whether an individual is suicidal or not. It focuses on the feelings, behaviors, and thinking of the individual (Yeager & Roberts, 2015). Straightforward questions are asked in order to ensure that lethal ideation is not missed. For instance, it is more effective to ask an individual whether they have thought of suicide rather than ask them whether they have thought about hurting themselves. The assessment helps health workers to determine the severity of such cases by analyzing individuals’ responses (Yeager & Roberts, 2015).
Conclusion
Suicide is a complex legal, moral, ethical, and philosophical issue. It has been discussed in many fields without coming to a conclusive agreement. It is either ethical or unethical depending on the circumstances under which it is conducted. Suicide is characterized by severe depression, isolation, aggression, hopelessness, psychological pain, and feelings of abandonment. Homicide and suicide are similar in that individuals who commit them exhibit same traits of psychological instability and usually follow one with the other. A triage assessment form is used to analyze the thinking, feelings, and behavior of individuals in order to determine the severity of their situations.
References
James, R. (2007). Crisis Intervention Strategies. New York, NY: Cengage Learning.
James, R., & Gilliland, B. (2012). Crisis Intervention Strategies. New York, NY: Cengage: Learning.
Lester, D., & Rogers, J. R. (2013). Suicide: A Global Issue. New York, NY: ABC-CLIO.
Yeager, K., & Roberts, A. (2015). Crisis Intervention Handbook: Assessment, Treatment, and Research. London, England: Oxford University Press