Essay About Motivation Of Individuals And Suicide Attempt

Suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United
States.(1) Based on the assumption that suicide is not a rational
choice, society has long sought to prevent or discourage the
practice. In fact, society has generally regarded a suicide attempt
as a plea for help or an indication of a need for psychiatric
treatment. The debate about legalizing assisted suicide and
euthanasia has challenged these assumptions, suggesting that for at
least some individuals, society should shift from prevention to
toleration or assistance.
Central to the current discussion of assisted suicide and
euthanasia is a need to understand the nature of suicide, the
motivation of individuals who commit suicide, and the specific risk
factors. Suicide outside the context of terminal or chronic illness
has been the subject of extensive study by sociologists,