Suicide and Schizophrenia

Clem specifically pointed out the relations between patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and their suicide rates. He expressed concerns about the lack of awareness the public had on this matter and quoted “The rate of mortality makes schizophrenia one of the deadlier diseases you’ll ever encounter. Nobody ever tells you that.” (Clem 47) He explained how schizophrenic people released from the hospital experiences the worst conditions from the first six to nine months “That’s when a good portion kill themselves. That’s when the medication had sufficient time to really kick in. The delusions disappear and people are able to see, really see with a kind of lucidity for the first time, the true scope of their illness. How lifelong a struggle it will be.” (Clem 48) These haunting words might feel discouraging but it also urges the need to take schizophrenic patients on a higher level of attention and care. If they can make it through those critical months, the hope can be slowly restored through mastering new skills and finding a new community that is accepting and supportive.

  

The link here provides basic information on schizophrenia and it's suicidal information. It states that suicide prevention can be difficult because people with schizophrenia can sometimes act without warning. In Ben's case, it ended with him shooting himself in the basement, which could be him acting out of impulse and totally unintentional, and most likely, could be avoided if family members and health care members were aware of the risk factors for suicide.