Preventing Suicide

The disorders afflicting most Americans who commit suicide are depression and chronic alcoholism, one or the other of which has been present in the majority of suicides studied in this country.1 , 2 People who have other serious disorders — for example, schizophrenia and drug addiction — are also at risk of suicide; but they are much less numerous than those with alcoholism or depression, so they make up a smaller proportion of suicide victims.Alcoholic suicides have usually been excessive drinkers for many years. Often their habitual drunkenness has impaired their health and has so wrecked their family life and work . . .