Environmental Influence on Suicide

When an individual is in a rigid or chaotic environment, where when the presence of a threat is possible and when is unknown, the result is a person becomes vigilant.  Vigilance results in concrete thoughts, another words a person's brain gets stuck and access to the abstract thinking center gets cut off.  As environments get harsher, there is movement to different stages of limbic thought.  The last stage is terror that results in reflexive thought.  I think the role of environment on the brain in suicidal behavior is important to recognize, as I study a table about children's brain development in Dr. Bruce Perry's book - The Boy Who Was Raised By a Dog.

Harsh environments cause a person's brain to create states of terror.  One can trigger early states of terror in a persons life by a touch, loud noise, yelling, etc.  So, it seems to makes sense that the same would hold true for professions where bodily harm is highly possible.  These professions would include things like police work, construction, the military, and perhaps human trafficking rescue work.  Being able to relax the brain in harsh environments should be a focus, if we want to assist people in extending their lives.  With relaxation, folks can begin to strategize more and access their thinking brain to engage creative vs stereotypic or rigid problem solving.

The threat of cultural collapse, as in historical trauma, could be a highly threatening environment also.  

That's all the thought I have right now.  Off to play therapy with my son.  If you are suicidal and want to engage in therapy or just connection, one can start the journey by calling 800-273-TALK.

Peace, 
Carol