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Suicide: A Growing Crisis

Every forty seconds, a valuable life is lost. As a matter of fact, from the start of 2023 till the date this article is written, an estimated 796,000 people have committed suicide-of which 70% are males lying in the age range of 15 to 30, the rest being women.

Why Talking About Suicide Matters

Suicide is surely a hard and a rather personal topic to talk about especially due to the great stigma surrounding it influenced by either religious and/or cultural viewpoints which leads to a lot of people who might be battling with this issue being pressed down to keep quiet. But until we don’t break this taboo, we would be losing possible world leaders who might simply be temporarily lost or going through a tough and fazed path in life, unaware of their true sheer potential. Sometimes people don’t even want to end their lives but rather escape from a certain situation from which they cannot find a way out of other than suicide. Thus, it is vital for us to educate ourselves on this topic and then observe our surroundings with the intent of saving precious lives, including our own selves too!

Common Reasons Behind Suicide

The primary reason for suicide is assumed to be simply depression. However, it is actually much more complicated. Although there are many reasons due to which a person could start having thoughts on ending his/her life, some of them are as follows:

·       Social: This could range anywhere from being body shamed (leading to low self-esteem) to developing complexes around your wealth and/or overall peer pressure of trying out new things which you may not have been previously fond of (drugs, parties, etc.). This may lead to drug abuse which further adds fuel to the raging fire of ending your life if you are unable to go sober.

·       Family: There may be a chance of rifts between certain families or between the individuals of a single family which could be taking a toll upon someone because of the simultaneous poisonings or being thrown here and there between parents (due to a divorce) which leads a person very confused. This could be coupled with the loss of a close or special family member, especially if the person was emotionally dependent on him/her.

·       Financial: During this era of exponential inflation and unemployment, it is rather difficult to handle your expenses and provide for the family, especially if you are a college student and the only possible breadwinner for your family. The pressure of the whole house being dependent on your earnings mixed with the expectations and demands of your household could lead to someone ending his own life.

·       Academic: If for instance you have been a straight A student all your life with high expectations from everyone, and now due to any circumstance (as stated above) you are not able to produce a good grade or are consistently degrading in your studies, this could build up a lot of family pressure on you especially if your family is unaware of your life. This could lead them to not understand you and then you will be dealing with everything yourself.

Signs Someone May Need Help

To be fair, we really would not know what is going on in someone’s life until we don’t deeply ask him/her so a better approach would be to first identify the symptoms and then further proceed to talk to them if they feel comfortable. Some prominent signs of probable suicide are:

·       Speaking hopelessness: They may include references to “Killing themselves”, “Having no reason to live” or “Being a burden to the world” while opening up to you.

·       Behavioral Changes: Withdrawing from activities which you used to love previously, isolating yourself from family and friends, Increased or decreased sleep all indicate a serious problem.

·       Mood Changes: Depression, Loss of interest, humility and anxiety are also some signs of suicide

·       Physical damage: The points above mainly focused on mental or verbal signs whereas a deadlier and more prone to suicide are ones involving physical harm in the shape of scars, bruises or any other incident. This might indicate previous suicide attempts as well which could infuriate the current situation

     

 

     How to Prevent Suicide

After observing and finding out an individual who could be struggling with this issue, it is now in our hands to reassure him that everything will turn out fine. But what can we do to prevent suicide? By living. We know it may sound simple and silly, but it’s the only way to stay alive. Not just getting out of bed, but truly appreciating what’s around you, counting your blessings, reflecting on your younger self and the dreams you once had. You need to gather every piece of yourself and discover who you truly are. Surround yourself with people who love you, talk to your friends, and create an environment where you love yourself. We know it may seem difficult, but you need to face your fears before facing the world. Fight the battles within yourself before taking on the world outside. Remember, you deserve to live a life filled with happiness and love.

Where to Get Help

If you believe someone is in a state of harming themselves, it is your responsibility to call emergency services or a suicide awareness hotline to help the individual. You can encourage them to contact Umang Pakistan at 0311-7786264, to seek help or talk to someone. It is recognized by the WHO and is available 24 hours for service. If you are situated in any other country than Pakistan, then find a counselling hotline available in your country.

There are multiple national and international Mental Health Resources available on the net which a person could refer to. Some of the more important in cases of emergency are:

·       Pakistan Police & Rescues hotline: 15 and 1122

·       Umang – Pakistan

·       Findahelpline – Pakistan

·       Rozan – Pakistan

·       WebMD

Suicide awareness is not just about acknowledging the problem; it’s about fostering a community of compassion and understanding. By standing together, we can break the stigma surrounding mental health, providing a safe space for everyone to share their struggles and triumphs. Empathy is not something we need to learn, it is inside us. As September draws to an end, my dear reader, we hope you shall be more aware of the signs around you. We hope all of us can do something about these signs, and protect lives that deserve to laugh as loudly as we do.