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Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide And Suicide

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Evaluate some of the factors that might contribute to a person engaging in suicidal behaviour.

Suicide is the wilful taking of one’s own life. Suicide is prevalent and affects people of all ages and cultures. In the UK male population suicide is now the biggest killer of middle-aged males overtaking diseases such as cancer and heart disease. A major predictor of engaging in suicidal behaviour is depression. Furthermore, it was found that 15% of clinically depressed patients would take their own lives. (HOLT). Those are only statistics but they can in no way describe the misery in which people find themselves. There are many differing factors that contribute to a person engaging in suicidal behaviour such as loss, history of mental disorder and environmental factors. There are also many theories of suicide that integrate these established risk factors such as the interpersonal theory of suicide.

The interpersonal theory of suicide was developed by psychologist Thomas Joiner. This theory attempts to understand the reasoning behind in suicidal behaviour. According to the theory, “the simultaneous presence of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness produce the desire for suicide.” (Thomas E. Joiner Jr. [et al.]2009). Belongingness is believed to be an essential need, for an individual 's psychological health and welfare. For example, social isolation is regularly reported by those who die by suicide previous to death. An individual may also feel that they are

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