suicide news stories on Newser

Niagara Falls' Sad Stigma: Magnet for Jumpers

John Johnson — Wed, 23 May 2012 19:12:39 CDT

Rescuers in Niagara Falls still haven't found the body of the man who jumped Tuesday in an apparent suicide attempt. Meanwhile, the man who jumped the previous day and miraculously survived is still recuperating, reports AP . Two jumpers in two days: Just how common is this? Parks officials don't like...

2nd Person Goes Over Niagara Falls

Matt Cantor — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:55:12 CDT

Yesterday, a man survived a drop over the Canadian Horseshoe section of Niagara Falls; today, another person has apparently plunged over the falls on the US side, reports the Buffalo News . The rocks on the American side make survival unlikely, "but we've got to keep looking," says a New York...

Kennedys Reveal Depths of Mary's Depression

Rob Quinn — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:49:05 CDT

Friends and relatives of Mary Kennedy have opened up about the depression she struggled with for many years. They describe Kennedy, who hanged herself at her Westchester home this week , as a friendly, generous woman, but one who was fighting a tough battle against depression, and who had spoken of...

Inside the Murky World of Elderly Assisted Suicide

Kate Schwartz — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:41:47 CDT

The headline of a heart-wrenching story from the Los Angeles Times neatly poses a long-debated question: "Assisted suicide or a show of love?" In this instance, the Times dives into the case of Alan Purdy, an 88-year-old who was booked on suspicion of assisting in a suicide (the district attorney...

Junior Seau's Brain to Be Checked for Damage

Matt Cantor — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:32:05 CDT

Doctors will inspect Junior Seau's brain for any evidence of injury from his football days, following an agreement with his family. Several early deaths among football players have pointed to brain injury, the Los Angeles Times notes. "The family was considering this almost from the beginning, but they didn't want...

Essayist Quits as NFL Fan After Seau Death

John Johnson — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:58:56 CDT

The medical examiner in San Diego confirmed today that Junior Seau committed suicide with a gunshot to the chest, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune . The family has not decided yet whether to donate his brain to researchers to see if he suffered damage from football. Seau's former wife told the...

Cops Confirm Junior Seau's Death Is Suicide Investigation

John Johnson — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:30:00 CDT

The details are filling in on the death of NFL great Junior Seau at age 43. These from the San Diego Union-Tribune , AP , and TMZ . Suicide: San Diego police confirm it's a suicide investigation. Seau's girlfriend called 911 about 9:30am after she found him unconscious inside a bedroom. He...

Bullied Kids 'Prone to Self Harm'

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:14:13 CDT

Bullied children are more likely to self-harm during their adolescent years than their classmates are, the BBC reports. A British study of more than 2,000 children shows that 12-year-olds who had endured bullying were up to three times more likely to bite or cut their own arms, pull out...

Killers Sax Player Dead in Apparent Suicide

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:40:05 CDT

Tommy Marth, saxophone player for The Killers, was found dead at home in Las Vegas Monday, and that death has now been ruled a suicide, TMZ reports. Marth, 33, toured with the band in 2008 and 2009 and was featured on two of its albums. "Our prayers are with his...