The hottest Suicide Substack posts right now

Keeping a gun at home is considered irresponsible.
Storing guns in safes is not foolproof - they can still be accessed for harm.
Gun suicides are a serious concern due to quick decision-making and high success rates.

Benzodiazepines like Ativan and Xanax are linked to higher risk of suicide, even in individuals without prior psychiatric history.
Studies have consistently shown an increased risk of suicide with benzodiazepine exposure.
Alternative treatments to benzodiazepines are needed for anxiety to prevent the heightened suicide risk associated with these medications.

Deindustrialization may not be the main cause of despair in America.
The geography of class strongly influences despair.
Deaths of despair increased with China shock, specifically impacting non-Hispanic white men.

Veterans face inequality in support after their service.
Proactive measures like suicide intervention and employment requirements can help support veterans.
Collaboration across agencies is crucial to prevent homelessness and provide comprehensive care for veterans.

Swinburne's argument against suicide is based on the idea that if God exists, taking one's own life is ungrateful towards the gift of life given by God.
Swinburne's argument falls short in the face of extreme suffering, where ending one's life may not be a violation of gratitude towards God, as seen in cases like severe pain or incurable genetic conditions.
The premise that suicide is always wrong due to ingratitude to God is questionable, as destroying a harmful gift might be what a loving benefactor would want in certain extreme circumstances.

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Suicide is influenced by biological, psychological, and psychiatric factors, but social factors are often overlooked.
Suicide can be an act of escape from suffering or a means of protesting wrongdoing.
Throughout history, suicide has been used for protest, punishment, or even altruistic purposes.

The tragic story of Aaron Bushnell highlights the deep emotional struggles and complexities individuals face when driven to extreme forms of protest.
Bushnell's radical act was a desperate plea for action against genocide, revealing the intense emotional toll of complicity and inaction.
The symbolic nature of Bushnell's final words 'Free Palestine' speaks to the universal pain and passion shared in the fight for justice and against oppression.

If you care about something, take every action possible to address it.
The military services have been neglecting the issue of suicide within their ranks, despite known causal links.
Bureaucratic evasion and lack of accountability hinder progress in addressing military and veteran suicide rates.

Many factors contribute to suicide risk, including social isolation, perceived burdensomeness, and acquired ability to enact self-harm.
There is a need for better theories of suicide that consider various risk factors like impulsivity, access to firearms, and chronic pain.
Policies and interventions targeting factors like social media use, substance abuse, and firearm access could help mitigate suicide risk.

Low cholesterol levels may be associated with violent suicide, particularly in certain areas of the brain, though the exact relationship is still not fully understood.
Policosanol, a supplement marketed for lowering cholesterol, was found ineffective in reducing cholesterol levels in a study, raising concerns about its efficacy and the integrity of research conducted by the Cuban firm promoting it.
Cholesterol plays a crucial role in facilitating the flux of hydrogen ions across cell membranes, despite theories predicting otherwise, highlighting the multifaceted functions of cholesterol in the body.