PROBLEMS OF SUICIDE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9323, 25 August 1908, Page 2

PROBLEMS OF SUICIDE.

♦ — — ■ j AN INTERESTING STUDY. Throughout the greater part of the civilised world the suicide rate is rising. Every year 10,000 persons in the United States, and more than 70,000 in Europe, take their own lives. The rate in the United States was only 12 per 1.000,000 of the population in 1881, whereas to-day it is 126 per 1,000,000. Facts like these make a study of SMcide, such as that contributed to "M'Clure's" by Mr George german, very important and deeply interesting. The subject is full of curious problems. Why is the rate of suicide strictly dependent on season and weather t What is the mental state of people who kill themselves upon absurdly inadequate provocation, such a3 the man who commits suicide because, his wife refuses to get out his clean underclothes? Why &the suicide rate of Japan eight times that of Portugal, and why do the Slavs of Bohemia kill themselves at the rate of 158 per 1,000,000, while the Slavs of Russia commit suicide at the rate of only 31 per 1,000,000? Why do emigrants carry their suicide rates with them and maintain such rates in a- new country 'long after the change in their environment ? EFFECT OF WEATHER, The most important point brought out by Mr Kennan. is that the suicide rate in various parts of the world varies with the weather. There used to be a prevalent belief that the dismal months of tho year and gloomy weather predisposed mankind to self-destruction, but statistics show that just the opposite is the case. Alike in Europe, America and Japan, suicides are more frequent in the spring and summer than in the winter and autumn, and the differences in the seasonal rates in the different countries are almost equal---59 per cent to 41 in Europe, 61 to 39 in the United States, and 59 to 41 in Japan. Further, there is every reason to believe that there is a greater tendency to suicide on fine summer days than on dull ones. Mr Kennan's explanation is that whereas in winter Nature seems to be in sympathy with the troubles of the unhappy man, in summer ' ' she laughs him to scorn with her sunshine, her blossoming flowers, her leafy trees, and her jubilation of mating birds." Ho thinks everybody is happy but himself, and in the midst of this universal joy there comes upon him a heartbreaking feeling of loneliness. There is no pity in the world, and he will take his life. SOLDIERS AND SUICIDE. A close relation also exists between, suicide and war. This was shown clearly in the war between America and Spain, and in the subsequent war in the Philippines. Instead of increasing in 1898, as it had done for more than a, decade, the number of suicides fell off by 680, and during the fighting in the Philippines the number was again reduced, this time by 580. But' in 1900, when interest in the Philippines began to wane, the number of suicides roso suddenly from 0340 to 7245. Mr Kennan's investigations brought to light the curious fact that afc Washington, where the Spanish war attracted most attention and created most excitement, the fall in the suicide rate was much greater than the average fall for the nation. European statistics show that wars on tho other side of the Atlantic have had "a similar effect on the suicide rate. The explanation given is that the excitement of war tends to drive away those morbid thought* which lead to suicide, and that war restrains suicide by strengthening tho bonds of social sympathy and drawing people together, "Ah unhappy man might resolve to end his life, and might load a revolver with the intention of shooting himself, but if he should happen to see a couple of his neighbours fighting in his frontgarden, he would probably lay the revolver aside, and watch the combat." But it is very remarkable that in time of peace the rate of suicide aipong soldiers is mucli greater than among civilians. Even in the United States, where there is no conscription, and relations between rjffieer* and men are fairly sympathetic and cordial, the rate ainoug soldiers is moi'e than eight times «« high as among adult men in civil life. SAN FRANCISCO'S EXAMPLE. San Francisco, after the earthquake, afforded striking evidence of the fact that if morbid introspection can be prevented, suicide will be checked. Before the earthquake tho suicides averaged twelve a week. After tho earthquake, in spite of the hardships to which the people wero subjected, there wens' only three suicides in two months. There was no time to be introspective. Ths excitement of the new life, the leeling that there was an immense amount to be done, and the knowledge that one was enduring and working with a host of sympathetic comrades, prevented people from thinking nbout self-destruction. "If life were always vividly interesting, as it was in San, Francisco after the earthauake. and if all men worked and suffered as the San Franciscans did for a few weeks, suicide would not end 10,000 American lives every year, as it does now."