Suicidal ideation poster

Suicidal ideation is a frequent medical term for suicidal thoughts, which may be as complete as a formulated plan, without the suicidal act itself. Those who attempt to harm themselves are, as a group, quite different from those who actually die from suicide; females attempt suicide much more frequently than males do, but males are four times more likely to die from suicide. Suicide is seen by Buddhism as a useless act that will not provide a solution to suffering. By virtue of its belief in rebirth, Buddhism teaches that that suicide does not offer a everlasting release from life's problems but merely postpones them to be faced at a later time. Furthermore, the taking of any life (including one's own) is prohibited by the first of the Five Precepts.