Committing suicide Quote by Steven D. Levitt
““While one might expect that suicide is highest among people whose lives are the hardest, research by Lester and others suggests the opposite: suicide is more common among people with a higher quality of life. “If you’re unhappy and you have something to blame your unhappiness on—if it’s the government, or the economy, or something—then that kind of immunizes you against committing suicide,” he says. “It’s when you have no external cause to blame for your unhappiness that suicide becomes more likely.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Freakonomics Radio, 2015
When people lack external reasons for their unhappiness, they may feel more hopeless, increasing suicide risk despite overall life quality.
In simple terms: Lack of blame can make unhappiness feel deeper, raising suicide risk.
Key Takeaway
Seek internal coping strategies beyond external blame.
Themes
mental health
blame
suicide risk
Mood
concerned
analytical
Type
psychological
informative
When to use this quote
- therapy
- support groups
- stress management
- community outreach
Key Concepts
Psychology
behavioral economics
Questions to Reflect On
- What internal resources help you cope?
- How can society better address hidden despair?
A Different Perspective
External causes can mask deeper issues.
![“[...]if you are hoping to damage opponents' mental health, go ahead and tell them how inferior or dim-witted or nasty they are. But even if you are certifiably right on every point, you should not think for a minute that you will ever be able to persuade them. Name-calling will make you an enemy…” quote by Steven D. Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4e9/steven-d-levitt-5284_first-place_if-you-are-hoping-to-damage-opponents-me_193482.jpg)
