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Myth:
Fact:
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People who talk about killing themselves rarely commit suicide
Most people who commit suicide have given some verbal clues
or warning of their intention.
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Myth:
Fact:
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The tendency toward suicide is inherited and passed from
generation to generation.
Although suicidal behavior does tend to run in families, it
does not appear to be transmitted genetically.
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Myth:
Fact:
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The suicidal person wants to die and feels that there is
no turning back.
Suicidal people are usually ambivalent about dying and frequently
will seek help immediately after attempting to harm themselves.
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Myth:
Fact:
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All suicidal people are deeply depressed.
Although depression is often closely associated with suicidal
feelings, not all people who kill themselves are obviously
depressed. In fact some suicidal people appear to be happier
than they've been in years because they have decided to "resolve"
all of their problems by killing themselves. Also, people
who are extremely depressed usually do not have the energy
to kill themselves.
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Myth:
Fact:
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There is no correlation between alcoholism and suicide.
Alcoholism and suicide often go hand in hand. Alcoholics are
prodded to suicidal behavior and even people who don't normally
drink will often ingest alcohol shortly before killing themselves.
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Myth:
Fact:
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Suicidal people are mentally ill.
Although many suicidal people are depressed and distraught,
most could not be diagnosed as mentally ill; perhaps only
about 25 percent of them are actually psychotic.
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Myth:
Fact:
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Once someone attempts suicide, that person will always entertain
thoughts of suicide.
Most people who are suicidal are so for only a very brief
period once in their lives. If the person receives the proper
support and assistance, he/she will probably never be suicidal
again. Only about 10 percent of the people who attempt later
kill themselves.
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Myth:
Fact:
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If you ask someone about their suicidal intentions, you will
only encourage them to kill themselves.
Actually the opposite is true. Asking someone directly about
their suicidal intentions will often lower their anxiety level
and act as a deterrent to suicidal behavior by encouraging
the ventilation of pent-up emotions through a frank discussion
of their problems.
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Myth:
Fact:
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Suicide is quite common among the lower class.
Suicide crosses all socioeconomic distinctions and no one
class is more susceptible to it than another.
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Myth:
Fact:
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Suicidal people rarely seek medical attention.
Research has consistently shown that about 75 percent of suicidal
people will visit a physician within the month before they
kill themselves.
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