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High Rate of Suicide Death! A Global Concern!
The writer was listening to early morning news, when he heard about the news of two young people, who voluntarily and intentionally taken their own lives or killed themselves at will. Simply put, they committed suicide! The news revealed that one of them owed someone N250, 000 which is approximately 310 US Dollar. He was unable to pay off his debt and decided to jump into the lagoon. His dead body was found latter on top of the water after few days. The second person was a student in higher institution who collected her tuition fee from her parents but her male friend borrowed the money from her, with the expressed intention of returning the same money before her exam, however, the said male friend failed to pay back the money and consequently, the student was unable to pay the tuition fee and the student decided to take poison and the person in question was killed with the poison. What sad news! Indeed, suicide death is never an answer or solution to any problem, it’s rather a destruction! So, avoid it!
It’s important to note that the rate at which people are committing suicide around the world is alarming and worrisome. For instance, the Word Health Organization {WHO} reveals that people committing suicide every year are over 700, 000 ! An article also reveals that 115 people die by suicide in the UK every week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention {CDC], reveals that suicide death in the US rose from 48,185 in year 2021, to 49, 449 deaths, in the year 2022. An article published by the Canada Government also reveals that almost 4, 500 people die in Canada by suicide every year, which is estimated to be 12 people die by suicide every day. In 2022, over 500 school students committed suicide in Japan, while the total number of people died by suicide in 2022 in Japan reached 21,881 people. In Spain over 4,097 people died by suicide in 2022, published by Euronews. In Germany, data from the Federal Statistical Office reveals that 9,000 people died by suicide in 2019. Truly speaking, high rate of suicide death is a serious global public health problem, which needs urgent global attention!
Suicide: A Wrong Choice and Morally Unacceptable!
The high rate of daily hardships people are made to face in their different countries around the world, without any support system for them to cushion the effect, may have harmful effects on their mental health, which may cause some of them to have the thought of committing suicide. For instance, a man with inadequate financial resources to meet his financial obligations, such as paying his bills, obtaining health care, etc. such a man may suffer from psychological distress or experience emotional disturbance, and may be prone to develop negative thoughts like worthlessness, hopelessness, etc. in his mind. Remember that a healthy mind has positive impact on a man’s mental wellbeing.
Furthermore, people facing daily multiple hardships such as economic hardship, financial hardship, unemployment, food insecurity, amongst others, may be living with invisible severe pain or depression. However, living with such severe pain or invisible agony in the mind for a long period of time without check, may reach a certain unbearable level, which may lead to people losing their sense of living, while anxiety with the feelings of shatter dreams and uncertain future may gradually usher in the thoughts of committing suicide and this may consequently, explain the high rate of suicide deaths among young people around the world.
However, no matter the hardships you are passing through, there’s still hope for you, stars shine brighter mostly in darkness. It means you can make your hardships to be the stepping stones out of your stumbling blocks, free yourself from suicidal thoughts because, suicide will close out the chances and the possibility of making your life better. Indeed, the thought of committing suicide is a wrong part to tow and it’s morally unacceptable! More importantly, attempting suicide is a crime and a punishable offence in some countries. Suicide simply means you are a killer regardless of who you kill. Hence, the saying ‘two wrong things can never make a right’! Notably, suicide can never solve your problems rather it makes them worse, and hurts the people who love you. Therefore, say capital NO to suicidal thoughts today!
Suicide! The suggested Reasons
There are different things that usually take place before committing suicide. one of them is the thoughts of committing suicide, i.e. suicidal thoughts, which may largely be due to the hardships or life difficulties one may experience. Another one is the decision made or reached to commit suicide, which may largely be due to the erroneous sense of worthlessness, purposelessness, hopelessness amongst others. It’s wrong to develop the thoughts of committing suicide, it’s morally wrong as well to make such erroneous decision to commit suicide and it’s completely wrong and unjustifiable in all ramifications to commit suicide or killing yourself at will!
It’s erroneous or wrong to think that the hardships or life’s difficulties you are facing now are insurmountable, when you are still alive! I have read the biographies of people who faced terrible hardship in their lives but today, they are successful men and women. There are also countries that experienced terrible economic hardship in the past but today, they have robust economies to show the world, e.g. Singapore, China, amongst others. In addition, who told you that your life is worthless? Every human being has at least a unique quality in them. That’s how we are naturally made. Therefore, your mentality of a sense of worthlessness or purposelessness is completely wrong and morally unacceptable! Who also told you that there’s no hope for you when you are still alive? Your feeling of hopelessness is highly erroneous! Free yourself from erroneous thinking today! Suicide is avoidable!
When problems arise in one’s life or one is passing through hardships, it’s natural to feel uncomfortable and unhappy about the situation, but if you continue to mull over the problem, the unhappier and more depressed you will feel and this may affect your ability to solve or find solution to the problem in time. You need to avoid over mulling or over thinking about the problems or situations that don’t give you joy. What you need to do is to think about the possible solutions to get out of the problems and to deal with them in healthy and productive ways that will bring personal growth and peace of mind.
Suicide is Preventable!
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention {CDC}, in 2021, estimated that 1.2 million people attempted suicide in the US. While it’s sad to know that there many people who are willing to commit suicide, it’s also interesting to know that suicide is preventable. And as an individual, who is likely to face life challenges or hardships, you can stand your ground against it, if you firmly choose so. You can be amazingly resilient!
However, people who are prone to commit suicide, they often display notable behaviors, that may easily show as the signals that the person is suffering from severe depression, and that he or she is likely to commit suicide. Here are some of the signs: the person is likely to be talking about his or her wish to die; he or she may engage in drug or substance abuse; he or she may get the wrong feeling of worthlessness, purposelessness, hopelessness, helplessness, uselessness, bitterness, and sadness, social withdrawal, recklessness or taking risks that may lead to death e.g. driving at high speed, sleeplessness, amongst others. When you notice all these signals in someone around you, it means the person needs help, because he or she may be suffering from an invisible agony that may lead to suicide.
Furthermore, people who are suffering from severe depression can also be helped by people around them to prevent suicide through common efforts and various ways which may include: proper health care, media supports, counseling, support organization e.g. NGO etc., provision of suicide and crisis hotlines, social intervention, restriction of access to dangerous objects and hotspots, such as poisonous substances, firearms or weapons, sharp objects e.g. knife, bridges, rivers, cliffs and so on.
Governments may also, promote comprehensive suicide death prevention measures such as welfare support package, education, health care, robust economy etc., and to also provide comprehensive information that may be easily understood by fairly large number of average people, on government various measures to prevent suicide.
In conclusion, if you are disturbed by suicidal thoughts never hide it to yourself, say it out! Discuss it with someone you love and trust, or better still, look for professional counseling and ask for help, it’s a sign of being brave and a possibility that will change your life for better. Believe in yourself and all that you are, because you are wonderfully made, and there’s something unique inside of you that is greater than any impediment or obstacle. Many people had also passed through life difficulties and hardships, but today they have made a lot of money, living comfortably and happily. Those who are amazingly resilient eventually become successful in life. In addition, life is good and beautiful, but short Why? Because no one lives up to 300 years or 200 years in life, so, don’t make it shorter by committing suicide! The dark clouds you see now will soon be over and your sunlight will soon begin to shine. Fairly large numbers of reasonable people see suicide as ridiculous, shameful and mostly an unwise decision for anyone to take. In the battle of life, difficulties and hardships may appear but, you must desire to emerge as a winner and not a pitiable victim. Tough times build tough people. You can only be a victor and enjoy your victory when you are alive. So, don’t give up, because ‘tough times never last but tough people do’ {Robert Schuler}. Once again, be wise! Suicide is avoidable!
Thank you!
