Suicide is on the increase. For every 1% increase in unemployment there’s a 1% increase in suicide.

The official approach within the caring professions is to respect the individual’s right to choose and many more social workers and medical staff are trained to support people who are suicidal.

For someone considering suicide, and for people living with someone who is suicidal, there is help and support:

Advice on suicide prevention: Living Works
Scotland’s national strategy on prevention: Choose Life

Helplines
Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87 
open 24hrs at weekends, 6pm-6am on Fri and Mon and 6pm-2am Mon-Thu
Samaritans 08457 90 90 90

Suicide in history

Up until the 5th century, suicide was common. It was a glorious way to martyrdom and a direct route to heaven. This made it a bit over-popular so to stem the flow, Christians decided not to allow suicides funeral rites. That quickly changed the mood and it became a bit of a shameful thing. Different religions and cultures have differing views of suicide – usually aligned to their views of religion, honour and the sanctity of life. For Samurai warriors, it was an honorable death – just as it is for kamikaze pilots and suicide bombers, sacrificing themselves for a higher cause. In the bad old days, a Hindu widow would sacrifice herself (jump or pushed?) on her husband’s funeral pyre. Right up until the 60s, suicide in the UK was considered a crime. Today suicide requires proof beyond reasonable doubt, as to the cause of death.