Practical spirituality can put a stop to suicide

BY ELISE MOORE

Hopelessness and depression are reportedly major causes of suicide around the world. Sadly, more than a million people commit suicide annually.

The statistics are chilling. The worldwide rate is 16 suicides per 100,000 people. In the last 45 years, suicide rates have increased 60 percent, according to the World Health Organization. A study published in The Lancet, a British medical journal, reported that the average rate of suicide for women in southern India was a shocking 148 per 100,000, with 58 per 100,000 for men. China, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka also have disclosed alarmingly high rates of suicide among women.

In Russia and Eastern Europe, the rate for men is significantly higher than for women. In Lithuania, more than 80 men per 100,000 committed suicide. The Russian Federation reported 70 men and 12 women per 100,000 in 2000. While alcohol is considered a contributing factor in these regions, general hopelessness and economic frustration have played a part.

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