Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide

Undeniably, the unique strength of this book comes from the author's intimacy while dealing with the topic. It is one thing to be an outsider observing a phenomenon and someone who has both experienced it, observed it and studied it for a good deal of their lives. This book is authoritative, detailed and incredibly comprehensive. If you ever had to read a book on this topic, it would be this - there is a seldom an aspect of suicide Jamison doesn't touch upon - history, culture, psychology, neurobiology, personal accounts. Furthermore, her courage to write about a topic that involves interviewing people about the most private and devastating moments of their lives is commendable. This is excluding the resilience one needs to devote a career to studying manic-depressive illness - a primary cause of suicide - and continuously witnessing such events and again and again, not to mention escaping its clutches herself in her own earlier life. What is intriguing about suicide is how it's peculiar to humans - for example, how it can be a product of the human ability to self-reflect and ruminate. From the evolutionary perspective, it is strange that this disposition towards ending one's own life (i.e. depression) has remained in the gene pool. Redfield talks about the possible altruistic notions of suicide - in the Eskimos, Norse, Samoan and Crow Indians, it is acceptable as an act of self-sacrifice among elderly and the sick. In Nomadic tribes, anyone slowing you down reduces your chance of survival. But if you move from the hereditary to the genetic - it turns out that the question of genes is a significantly difficult one. Are there specific genes for suicide, a result of genetically passed dispositions (including addiction, aggression and so forth), or disposition towards mental illnesses that cause suicide? Maybe, it's a more of a random product of DNA arrangement. As usual, the hereditary questions are relatively easier to answer than those regarding the genetic mechanisms that govern them. That isn't the only problem with the science of suicide - the statistics and surveys are hard to capture information from, and analyze them properly. Suicide continues to be underreported, although there has been tremendous progress in decreasing this. When it comes to clinical drug trials, suicidal patients are almost always excluded so it's hard to make compelling studies between suicidal behavior and antidepressants. The book talks a lot about mental illnesses such as depression, manic-depression and schizophrenia, but makes sure not to delve into them so its feels like a repetition of a course in abnormal psychology - it sticks to its own domain of suicide, regardless of the degree of overlap between psychopathology and suicide. It talks about many things that you can find in standard suicide text and manuals: risk factors, methods of suicide. This description is slight unfair...this book doesn't read like a manual, scientific and cultural commentary chapters are alternated with very intimate accounts: there are tragic mentions of suicide notes, but the book isn't about sympathy, there is an entire chapter on how effective suicide notes are effective in determining suicidal intentions, recreating the completer's psychological state of mind before suicide. The book is a must read for anyone, probably because nearly anyone who is uninformed about suicide is bound to have views based on false notions or misinformation surround the topic: People are shocked at successful people committing suicide ("Why did they kill themselves if they had it good?" without knowing that manic-depression targets the successful and academically high achieving more than the normal population. It mainly strikes in college years, and for reasons such as this that college's need well managed mental health infrastructure almost as much as other facilities such as athletic buildings and libraries. After reading this book, you'll feel antsy about WHY there isn't more aggressive drive towards improving suicide awareness, especially due to its prevalent in school years. The last chapter of the book is incredibly important as I feel that it had something that was missing from other books about suicide. Whereas most books place emphasis the individual, Jamison talks about societal views and especially recommending media and journalistic ethics - something important in our (unfortunately) hyper-reporting-dependent society: not presenting simplistic explanations for suicide, repetitive reporting, "how-to" descriptions of suicide, glorification of suicide and perhaps the most counter-intuitive idea - that we should NOT focus on completer's positive characteristics too much ("he/she had a bright future") because it may make suicide attractive to people at risk who aren't as well performing. Books such as these are terribly important because they can act as tools to slowly chip away at the stigma associated with suicide, especially those in religious communities. In Abrahamic religions that take up most of the world's population, there are no burial rights for suicides. Lastly, I shouldn't forget to mention that for a lawmaker, her policy recommendations give an imperative insight into what a society should be doing to tackle a phenomenon like suicide. I loved reading this book and didn't find it even boring in the slightest although I had nothing to benefit from it personally, professionally or academically. It's interesting simply due to its power to make someone into an informed citizen simply by capturing his or her curiosity. There isn't anything to complain about in this book - except that I hope that she discussed the philosophy of suicide more before considering there is endless debate on the bravery vs. cowardice and undesirability of this option. (Camus said "There is only one serious philosophical question, and that is suicide".) A brilliant, personal, well-written and studied book!

I lost my brilliant 23 year old daughter who had just started her 3rd year of medical school to suicide 4-11-13. At first, I read as many books as I could written by people who have lost children to suicide and what they went through and how they survived. Once you are able to read, these books are very helpful in making you realize all the horrible things you are thinking, going through, and experiencing, while the most horrible experience of your existence is in fact, a normal reaction to losing your child. Normal. Nothing about losing your child to suicide is normal. But at least you know you are not alone. My daughter, never in her 23 years, showed one single sign to me or any of her friends of depression. I found out after her death, that she had confided in one friend that she was depressed very soon before she died, but that person thought we knew and did not know she was suicidal. Other than that, her life was filled with success that came very easily to her. She was brilliant, sweet, loving, an artist, a writer, and succeeded at everything she set out to do. She never seemed depressed or stressed out. She was doing extremely well in medical school. I saw her the week before she died and she seemed totally normal, her sweet, happy, normal self. One week later I was called at work by the police that lived over 3 hours away where she lived and went to medical school that she was dead from suicide. Only in her suicide note did I find out that she had been depressed all her life and hid it from us to protect us from it. She said she would have took her life years ago but could not bear to do it due to the pain it would cause us, but to forgive her that she could no longer go on due to the weight of the sadness she has lived all her life. This seemingly happy child from the day she was born, sad?? I won't go in to the depths of my pain since and what it is now and will forever be. But I needed answers. This book provides answers in part, because it has in it the many instances of brilliant people taking their own lives. I do want to let you know that this book is excellent. It is written by someone who suffers from bipolar disorder, has attempted suicide herself, but has continued on to lead a very productive life and is a psychologist. She has her own personal experience in this book as well as experiences of others. However, I would not suggest this book to anyone who has very recently lost someone to suicide. Your mind would not be able to grasp this book then. What you need then is something to help you through your pain as best you can. Though I still need this, I needed something to help me understand the mood disorders such as depression and bipolar. I don't know which one my daughter had, probably major depression. But I will never know because she never sought help. Also, there is a lot of scientific information in this book such as the biology of a suicidal mind, history of depression in the past and how society dealt with it. This may be too much scientific information for some people it just depends on the person. For me, it helped knowing this. The book is also filled with just so much that helped me and much of it is just too hard to put into words in this review. I recommend this book highly for someone who wants to try to understand suicide (what we know so far anyway, we have much more to learn), but wait a bit after your loss. No book you read will relieve the agony that one experiences after the loss of a loved one after suicide, especially if it's your child. But some books help you better understand things and that's about as much as any book can do with this horrible epidemic.

This is a very good book with much to offer the individual who needs to know more about this truly difficult topic.It offers a wide array of interesting insights and topics within the topic itself. It is well written and not too clinical so all, not just professionals can benefit.Suicidal thinking or dealing with the patient who attempts it is hard enough with just basic knowledge.One must arm oneself with deeper knowledge to even begin to understand the complex nature of why someone would want to end their life and then what to do about it.Depression is one of the harder areas of psychiatry to treat and allay with success rates that could be better.The addition of hopelessness and total worthlessness for whatever reason in which a person sees no other way out and in time leading to the contemplation of suicide is a tough road to be on never mind treat.This book illuminates some of those ideas and gives one key ideas to increase a clinicians general understanding aside from an empathetic response.True our first line of defence is medication but the core issues must also be evaluated and discussed with the patient.To get at the crux of the problem, if you can can make the difference.Certain conditions,medical,economic,genetic,or situational all come into play when a person crosses that brink of tolerance and makes the decision to attempt suicide.Thank goodness many fail in their attempt either through error or being discovered.Most need help and get it in a circuitous way.Others do succeed on their first or second try.Jamison also tried it and good for her and us, lived to write about it.Her style is friendly and crisp and her book is layed out well.The ideas she puts forth and the examples she gives as well as her own experiences are given all through the book and there really is no chapter that slows you down or runs dry.It is highly recommended that it be read by those in the field as well as the layperson who needs to know more about this troublesome area in which the human condition can sometime find itself.If you want to know what makes the suicidal person tick or what you need to know to help them read this book.

I began my quest to understand suicide when I was very young.... and in the late 60's/early 70's all I could find in my small town public library were things written by Freud. (No fun for a 12 year old to read, I assure you!) Nevertheless, I read everything I could find in hopes of understanding "WHY!?" I could understand why someone might want to "give up" but I just couldn't comprehend how or why someone could go all the way through the act of suicide. What was going on within them that could make it possible to leave behind those they love with such a devastating, traumatic loss? Did they even begin to comprehend what their families, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and community members were left with? Having experienced suicide in my own family, the reasons described in dozens of books from the 70's through the 90's just didn't ring true with what I knew of loved one's who had attempted or completed suicide. So I kept reading. Then Dr. Redfeld-Jamison's book came out. She writes with a compelling authority of intimate personal experience and professional expertise and insight. I was mesmerized by the book. As trite as it sounds, after reading it I realized that I had found the understanding and insight I was looking for. I no longer buy and read every book about suicide I can get my hands on. Now, as a practicing psychotherapist and clinical consultant to other therapists, I hear of suicides in our town much too often. In addition to the normal clinical interventions you'd expect a psychotherapist to provide (including EMDR for the loved ones left behind) I donate a copy of Night Falls Fast to one person within each circle of those left in the wreckage of a suicide. I only ask that folks share it with others after they read it. I ask that they not return it to me, but instead, leave it "in circulation" with the hope that as many people as possible might be touched by its insight and wisdom. Since the book was first published, I have probably given 40 to 50 copies of the book away. It is that good. It is a classic.

I am a grieving mom who lost her only child, my 39 yr old son, to suicide just before Christmas. It was a complete shock leaving so many unanswered questions. I am on a mission to read all I can about suicide and mental health. It is my quest.

I purchased this book decades ago when I lost my aunt to suicide; repurchased it as I had given my copy to a friend who was going through something similar. This is an essential read for anyone struggling with understanding and coping with why people end their own lives. I can’t say it is going to magically fix the pain of the loss, but it can certainly offer answers that help accept the possible “why’s” and thought processes these people had gone through. It was an eye opener for me for sure.

Of the many books about suicide, this is the one I consider indispensable and always recommend. It's a tremendous overview that covers so many issues. It offers historical perspective on how suicide has been perceived by different cultures over the centuries. It describes the various methods of suicide and who (by gender, age, race, etc.) is more likely to choose specific methods. It reviews the various theories put forth by psychologists and psychiatrists to explain suicide. It includes detailed analyses of the various mood disorders and substance abuses that contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviors. It delves into the old and new drugs aimed at alleviating mental illnesses and suicide ideation. It shares compelling stories of individuals who have succumbed to suicide and stories of family members and loved ones who struggle to go on with their lives afterward. It also addresses suicide prevention. The author, Kay Redfield Jamison, is a professor of psychiatry who once attempted suicide herself. As such, her writing is informed with both professional expertise and personal experience. From the Prologue to the Epilogue, it's obvious that Jamison is someone who has "been there" and really understands the sadness and pain around suicide. The book is written in a clear and accessible style that all general readers should be able to grasp. It is suffused with compassion and hard-won wisdom that should benefit anyone searching for information about this tragic phenomenon. Highly recommended.

I only gave this 3 stars as I lost a nephew to suicide and am still trying to accept. Lots of technical and medical terms I don't understand, still don't have a clue after reading this book.