Today is World Suicide Prevention Day.
KNOW ABOUT IT
Magnitude of the problem Suicide is among the top 20 leading causes of death globally for all ages. Every year, nearly one million people die from suicide.
Risk factors Mental illness, primarily depression and alcohol use disorders, abuse, violence, loss, cultural and social background, represent major risk factors for suicide.
Prevention Restriction of access to means of suicide, such as toxic substances and firearms, identification and management of persons suffering from mental and substance use disorders, improved access to health and social services, and responsible reporting of suicide by the media are effective strategies for the prevention of suicide.
WHAT WE AS CITIZENS OF THE WORLD CAN DO?
International Association for Suicide Prevention ( IASP ) works for this cause and have started this campaign. They say that we can a part of the campaign, by lighting a candle near a window at 8 pm today. Although, lighting a candle is only a symbolic act, but let us try to spread the awareness about this cause.
DO YOU THINK YOU NEED HELP?
If you are feeling suicidal or know of someone who needs help, here is the link Help to find a crisis center anywhere in the world. (I was surprised to see that such a network exists, see it to believe it)
MY VIEW ON THE ISSUE :
Although, the decision to end one's life is a personal issue, I believe that suicide should not be a called a crime, as is the scenario in India. It should be an individual's personal choice - to live or not to live. The Govt, at least should not have anything to do with it.
However, since a person is born to a family, towards whom he has certain responsibilities, therefore, one should not simply think of death as the death of his body, it is the demise of the dreams and expectations of a whole family, it is the shattering of some one's trust, and it is cowardice to believe that death will solve all problems. You will die, but will give birth to such gloom and so many troubles, that you can only be called a coward.
So, if you have any such thoughts, know it, that every morning is a fresh start of life. However dark the night is, there is always a morning awaiting you. Just talk to a friend, don't kill yourself in silence.
Let us be sensitive towards the people around us, lend an ear to the depressed, extend a hand of support to the one who is drowning in depression and having suicidal thoughts.
AS A BLOGGER
RESTLESS
15 comments:
The very word Suicide makes a person shiver but every one must know about the causes for taking such a drastic step. In Bangalore, I am volunteer counselor for Suicide Prevention helpline callede SAHAI and more can be read on my blog link-
http://srayyangar.blogspot.com/search/label/Suicide%20Prevention%20Helpline
The word that I hate the most is this,and the person I hate/pity the most is the one who does that! It just takes few macro seconds to commit it. To me, someone who is so bold and courage can only commit suicide! It requires a lot of guts! If they can show the same boldness/courage/guts towards facing the life, they will be the most happiest ever!!
PS: Liked your title :) :) :), you know for what???
It's not so easy. When one is confronted with such thoughts, no person will ever think about talking the same with another, let alone, know it, as you say, and can never think beyond the dark night. There may be some light at the end of the tunnel, but what if the person thinks, he or she is inside a infinite blackhole which sucks and never let you leave...
Nice one Restless!
But if you allow me, I would like to share a link to one of my posts on Suicide:
http://niketgupta.blogspot.com/2010/05/dont-die-like-cockroachsay-no-to.html
Read it, I would love to have your comments!
Thank you, that was extremely valuable and interesting...I will be back again to read more on this topic.
suicides stem from an inferiority complex..nay.. not complex, but situations where the person is made inferior by others. There'ill be no one he can identify with and no one to talk to.
so in such situations talking won't help.
As Neothehack, talking won't help, but listening helps. In today's busy world, the speakers are increasing, whereas the Listeners are decreasing.
Thank u Mr Ayyangar for sharing the info.
@ Vaish - Actually, people who commit suicide are not bold, they do at a spur of the moment, and would like to back out if they could, when it is too late. yes, guts should be shown in facing life's problems.
PS: yeah dear I know why!! That's ur blog title!
@ Neothehack - You know what, I can understand what u r saying. Unfortunately, it is true. Its is very much true. But awareness is important.
@ Niket - sure Niket, will do that. You can always leave relevant links here. Thanks :)
@ anonymous - thanks, glad u liked!
@ Neothehack - It is not really inferiority... i don't agree... sometimes it is only a phase, a never ending phase, as it seems. But always remember this line, when upset " This too shall pass".
Talking does help, provided it is some one whom the person loves and respects.
@ Prashant - That is what I wrote in the post, extend a helping hand to someone who may need you, lend an ear to someone who is drowning in the river of sorrow. Together, we can make a difference.
RESTLESS
Nopes u r wrong. Its actually inferiority thing that is lying dormant in them. & it is caused by the situations caused by his/her environment and all those entities are responsible for it. What you call as phase may be the period when the person comes face to face with the urge for throwing himself/herself away, but the feeling will lie dormant all thru the life.
Hi Restless,
I participated with BloggersUnite for WSPD also and did 2 blogs but am just getting through some of the many other blogs now.
Was a little caught off guard with your comment that suicide is cowardice as I totally don't agree with that at all. I believe when someone is contemplating taking their own lives, it has nothing to do with bravery or being a coward, it is often their illness acting, they are not of sound mind. Almost 90% of suicides have some mental health issue attached.
One of your other comments said it's inferiority and not anything else. I disagree strongly with that too. Yes many suffer from low self esteem which results in feeling inferior, but I think more than anything, they are in such utter despair and pain that they just want the pain to end and unfortuantely arrive at the conclusion dying is the only way out.
With mental illness, depression included, chemical imbalances are present that can often be treated. Due to the stigma still attached to suicide, those needing the help most are fearful of reaching out because of being judged, labelled, ridiculed.
I liked your post overall and am so glad so many participated because each and every blog supports raising awareness about suicide and will help dispell inaccuracies and stigma and help prevent suicide.
I really agree with what allucanbe says... she is very true.. she took words from my mouth, or rather.. told whatever i couldnt express myself.
and i would like to add something more too. Life is not all cliches and symbolisms like lighting candle of posting a prevent suicide banner. it means more.
@ Neothehack -
I read all your comments.
All I can say is, I understand what you are saying. To some, I agree too. Like sybolic gesture, as u said, yeah true, but that's just a way to creating awareness. It makes people open to new ideas, and they speak up. You have come up and said against my views.
In fact, ur expression is straight from the heart and shows the pain.
But,dear, inferiority is something, we take it as. We choose or don't choose to feel inferior to someone else. I know it is easier to preach, like i am doing, and very very difficult to deal with.
My post was aimed to such youngsters, who give up too soon, too easily.
Take care,
RESTLESS
Hi allucanbe,
First, thanks for dropping in and welcome to this blog!
I agree to what u said partly, if it's an illness, pain, disease, the feeling to end life is undertandable and is not cowardice. And I strongly feel, we should have that right to end our lives, without law or religion interfering with our decision or a bad talk about it later.
But, in case of youngsters, who because of various emotional, mental, societal, familial issues, sometimes, very very trivial issues, resort to suicide, it is really really cowardice. Suicide should not be an escape from life's challanges.
It needs guts, as a commentor said, yes it needs guts to cut your vein and see the blood oozing out of it. U wait till u die, you suffer till you die.
Should we not motivate our youth to learn to catch the bull by its horns, face the challenges of life, and donot think of ending life?
Dear, this was the aim, that's why such strong words like "cowardice".
Mental health is relatively new in today's world, but it will catch up soon, and talking about it won't have any stigma attached to it, if we people keep talking and writing about the issue openly.
Take care!
RESTLESS
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