Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-15
War and Suicide
Connection Between the Two as
Shown by Some Recent Reports
(From the Boston Transcript.)

: (From the Boston Transeript)
From him that hath not shall be taken even
that which he hath" The great war robbed the
civilized world of millions of its men, slain in
battle or dead of disease famine: and no sooner
was the ravage Of the war well at hand, and
the nations it seemed, might now sit down to-
gether to repair their losses, than lnen began to
slay themselves in unprecedented numbers Dur
ing the first six months of this year there an
increase of 3,738 in the number OF adult suicides
in this country over the same period OF the pre-
ceding year, and suicides among children had
more than doubled. In the first six months of
1927, in this country 4,s27 men took their lives,
as compared with 2,77l last year. Nor was this
increase OF suicide an American phenomenon
The dreadful harvest OF self-slaughter was
reaped in still large, measure in European toun-
tries Germany, its manhood most heavily de-
peted in battle, has lost with proportional heavi-
ness by suicide, and if the record in this par
ticular of unhappy Russia is ever written, it will
unquestionably tell a story OF self-destrueton
that will constitute one of the saddest tragedies
of history.
The offering of self-destruction which man
kind thus lays on the already overburdened altar
of the god of war is one Of the sternest OF argu-
ments against war itself. 1t admonishes the ma
tions of the world to seek, and seek earnestly.
putting their rvalries and ambitions aside, and
for the salvation OF their own manhood and
disputes, the settlement Of their quarrels For the
matter of suicide has entered upon new phase
in the history of the world. The act which in
ancient Rome meant heroic self-sacrihce in
the nations name, which even in japan today
chiefly signifies form of devotion to the state,
has become, in modern Europe, and America, an
indication of sickly personal discouragement, OF
J sort of moral resentment against the unkind-
ness Of the world The motive of the average
modern suicide is mixture Of despair and anger
of despair because of conditions which in real
ty af1ict all men and women, OF anger against
circumstances which men themselves bring about.
The increasing prevalence Of suicide conse-
quent upon the great war proves that men cam
not bear the Encouragement which their own in
stitutions bring upon their souls. The evil should
admonish their brethren, and those who still
bear the burdens that they have, weakly laid
down, to seek the removal, as far as possible, of
the moral and material causes of the general
despair that seems to af1ict the world. The war
itself is not directly implicated in this new era
Of self-destruction by the Save.a-Life League,
which makes the foregoing figures public. ne
league attributes the unfortunate showing of the
first six months OF the present year to unsettled
economic conditions, involving business reyerses
and loss of employment and to other disturbing
elements of the period of postwar readjustnlent
But the economic conditions themselves are,
direct product of the war, and it is apparent that
such an increase must be due to an exceptional
cause, and is not to be accounted for the
theory that suicide is becoming more prevalent
year by year. :.
The problem of successfully dealing with the
mental states that lead to suicide Is complex
one concerning which there is a great body of
conflicting opinions. Perhaps one difficulty in
the way is that public discussion of suicide is
attended by dangers of increasing the very evils
it seeks to remedy There are many cases which
illustrate the power Of suggestion in bringing
about self destruction. But there is one thing in
the report now published that justifes publicity
and careful consideration. 1t is stated that 507
children ended their lives i'll the first half of 1921
as compared with 225 in the first half of 1920.
In seeking the causes of suicide among the
young is found that fear of school examinations
plays its part, although it would not, of course,
account for great increase from one year to the
next But it is known from the testimony lett
behind by many OF the young unfortunates that
their dread of school ordeals is one OF the con-
tinuing causes of suicide In these days of school
physicians and nurses, when we read much OF
mental tests and modern methods Of studying
child psychology, it would seem that here was
opportunity for work Of prevention and the
saving of precious lives. 1t is work that might
well be supp|anted by efforts to give parents a
better understanding of youthful problems, and.
perhaps, a more sympathetic attitude toward
some of the tragedies of childhood, that involved,
for instance, when sensitive child is kept back
instead of being permitted to join the next higher
class along with his mates who are promoted.
But this years high suicide rate among the
young is evidently due in large measure to the
same conditions which have caused the increase
among adults. 1t is an aftermath of the vast
moral disturbance of war. 1t may pass, but there
will remain the problem of dealing with the evil,
for il is one of great extent even when reduced
to what may. be called its normal proportions.
As to the children, there is the question of mini
mixing the school difficulties that prove too much
for the courage Of some Of the pupils. There is
also to be determined what effect the prevalence
Of divorce may have on child suic and what
other causes there may be. 1t is a question
which merits study, as does the problem taken as
whole and applied to persons of all ages.