Have you or do you know someone who self-harms? Or maybe you knew someone who committed suicide. Even though it's a terrible thing to bring up, put yourself in that person's shoes. What caused this person to harm themselves or end their life? Suicide and self-harm are more serious than any other addiction. So, what is suicide? Suicide is when a person intentionally commits suicide. Every year, more than 30,000 people in America, of all races, cultures and ages, commit suicide. Among young people, more than 5,000 people commit suicide each year. (Kuehn, 6). The most common methods of suicide are firearms, hanging, and drug overdose. (“Understanding suicide and self-harm”). Often, acts of suicide occur under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, which affects the person's thoughts and actions. Although many suicidal people show no signs, some do. If you think someone you know might be suicidal, watch for the following signs: increased drug or alcohol use, showing rage or anger, talking about wanting to die or suicide, isolating or withdrawing, behaving recklessly and mood swings (“Understanding Suicide). and self-harm). If you think someone is considering suicide, you should trust your instincts. Talk to the person about your concerns and make sure you really listen. Ask them questions, but don't judge them. You should seek professional help and make sure they are never alone (“suicide”). Many factors can contribute to suicide. However, we may never know the real reason why someone committed suicide. Even the very few people who leave suicide notes may not be telling the truth (Kuehn, 5). Mental illnesses are a leading cause of suicide. Depression is the main cause. ...... middle of paper ......ss ("Dance in the Darkness, Self-Harm"). Anyone can self-harm, no matter where you are from, what you look like, or what you do. Anyone can self-harm. Depression is an illness that affects one in ten people during their lifetime. More than 80% of these people receive no treatment or medication. Many people with depression have factors such as obesity, sleep problems, and lack of education. People who are unemployed or divorced are more likely to suffer from depression. Studies show that women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men of the same age (“Depression Statistics”). As you can see, suicide and self-harm are two slightly different things. But both are very serious. One can lead to the other and both should be taken seriously. Suicide is much more than just death. Self-harm is more than any other addiction.