There are indications that a not insignificant segment of the US population favors or actively supports a government that centralizes political power in one official or small group and which only nominally respects democratic elections, political plurality, the rule of law, and the separation of powers in maintaining control and the status quo. Neither political science nor suicidology seem to have pondered how suicide prevention will be affected under an authoritarian form of government. It might not be too early to start pondering,
We know something of the relationship between this form of government and suicide. Countries with some type of authoritarian rule have among the highest suicide rates in the world. There is evidence that this may be due to some degree to the detrimental effects such systems have on individual mental wellness. Depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and a general sense of helplessness seem inherent to even low doses of civil authoritarianism. These are all risk factors that may beget other risk factors.
There are several not so subtle hints as to how an authoritarian system may affect suicide prevention. Restrictions on free exchange of information and an aversion to scientific inquiry top any list. The behavior of authoritarian officials and governments towards prevention and control of public health challenges like COVID-19 do not raise hopes regarding meaningful suicide prevention. Warping institutions that suicide prevention relies on for support and objective data (e.g., the US CDC) will take a heavy toll.
A lack of empathy for the suffering that suicide causes may be the most harmful consequence. Worst yet authoritarians are not known for their compassion toward the vulnerable. Benign neglect may be the best that an authoritarian government can muster and maybe not even that. Even authoritarian regimes require some measure of buy-in from those they rule. However, with the vast array of societal problems that tend to worsen under authoritarian systems, suicide prevention is not likely a concern that the masses will take to the street over.
We’ll leave it at that and hope you can add other factors. Thanks!
Dear Tony,
Authoritarians are most likely to be pathological narcissists with an unwillingness to show any empaty towards vulnerable people. In contrast, they do all they can to torture them. I have read about my facorite V. Frankle who was put to in KZ to talk inmates out of touching the electrified borders around the concentrationcamps. Then, in Bosnia and Herzegovina I read in WHO's manual what to do when one of these psychopaths, who have tortured victims, repent and want to purify themselves from all awful things they have done.
“Fatalistic Suicide” occupies a somewhat tentative place in Durkheim’s typology, but it is pertinent to understanding suicidal behavior in an authoritarian society as may befall the US. Despite some nominal measure of individual freedom, a significant level of moral, religious, social, and political despotism characterizes authoritarian polities. Rigid social regulation and control are societal norms. Some groups, typically minorities, but in many cases women, may find their autonomy and options more circumscribed than other groups. This may severely limit individuation, promote dehumanization, and foster hopelessness. Here is where authoritarianism may beget suicide risk.
Fatalistic suiicidality, ideation and attempts driven by fatalism, may become endemic in some segments of US society should increasingly threatening authoritarian tendencies fully take over. The likely resulting autocratic-theocratic-ethnocentric-racialistic-xenophobic-homophobic, etc., power structure that emerges may have little interest in preventing suicide in persons and populations adversely affected by their policies. Suicide research will be on the endangered species list too.
Here is how one autocrat sees suicide and regards suicidal people: https://www.businessinsider.com/kim-jong-un-bans-suicide-after-numbers-skyrocketed-report-2023-6.
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