The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-11-16
To Stop Suicides.

Intense interest is manifested Ill
the novel scheme to stay the hands
of self-destroyers and to render all
possible aid to the respondent by
the anti-suicide commission recent.
ly appointed by Mayor Tom l..
Johnson of Cleveland, Ohio. May
or Johnson says:-
1T is the grandest work ever at
tempted here. The commission s
primary object is to prevent suicide.
Suicides and attempted suicides are
not not always proof of insanity,
though the fact of self-destruction
always suggests it. l do not hesi
tate to say that insane persons fire.
quently suicide but the deed does
not necessarily indicate unbalanced
mind.
rhe increased number Of such
deaths recently must be considered
along with the increase of popula-
ton in the strenuous efforts neces.
sary TO maintain existence today.
The foreign element, which is grow
ing rapidly, must also be remem-
bered. Immigrants after their ar.
rival become home sick when the
rosy ideas of America brought with
them from the old country, are dis
appointed.
II think it is safe 10 say that so
per cent. of suicides here belong
to the foreign element. Alcohol
ism is certainly the basis of large
percentage of insanity, but ] should
not connect it to that extent with
suicide. Worry rom any cause
whatever, and low nervous condi-
tion are chiefly responsible.
This commission will investi
gate these conditions, and wherever
possible will render such assistance
as will make the victim of melan-
choly see the brighter side of life.
Each OF these men has had much
experience in sociological work and
is we'll fitted for this particular
task"
Most suicides are caused by de-
spondency, but the primary cause
of the dependency is what we
should look into. If we can help
only one unfortunate l consider it
work we'll done" is the way one
member of the committee looks at
the matter.
"In my opinion present social
conditions and lack of employs yment
causes much of the dependency
and dissatisfaction with ones lot in
life which 50 often ends in suicide"
was anothers comment.
'In the first nine months Of this
year eighty-siX persons killed them
selves in Cuyahoga County" said
the third, who continued
This is almost ten for each
month. Alienists of this city say
suicide is increasing The need of
some means to counteract this c, u
dition has been felt. We are will
ing ana anxious to aid any one who
is in the depths of despair and to
whom life no longer seems worth
living. If any unfortunate man,
woman, boy or girl who is so dis
couraged that life seems not worth
living will communicate with us,
the case will be taken up and we
will see what can be doue. How
many suicides would be prevented
if the sick, poor and respondent
had friends to go to, place to get
relief? l dare say many.
"Of the SO suicides in the first
nine months of 1905 the one word
'despondency' is the keyword of all.
Hard drinking, lack of work, sick
ness, domestic troubles, lives Of
shame, cause women to suicide.
The records show that the latter
cause is more frequent in the case
of women. Women usually choose
to end their lives with carbolic acid,
men with pistols or knives"
The question is a psychological
and social one we'll worth careful
study.