Most suicidal persons are ambivalent and are looking for a way to escape a seemingly unbearable situation. Most do not want death but want to end the pain they feel. Once a suicidal person shows signs of feeling better, the suicidal feelings have passed. It should not be assumed that since a suicidal person shows signs of improvement, the suicidal feelings have passed. They may lack the energy to put their suicidal thoughts into action at the moment, or they may feel relief after having made the decision to commit suicide.
Older men are at the highest risk of suicide.
Men are at the highest risk for death by suicide, particularly those men over 65. Suicide is a public health problem. Suicide has not traditionally been recognized as a preventable public health problem but instead seen as a sad and tragic event that could not be helped. Recently however, efforts have been made to educate the public about suicide and devise methods to prevent it from happening. Suicide is a public health concern, yet prevention should be multi-disciplined and efforts should be coordinated among all interested groups.