They say, one must try and be as happy as one can. But is that always possible? While it is a pleasurable feeling to be in a state of cheerfulness and stay optimistic at all times, there are situations that also tend to bring up the pessimistic, or rather, negative side of one’s personality. While people deal with a multitude of issues ranging across mild, moderate to severe distress, a more glaring issue that has been catching the public eye is the issue of rising suicides!
As each day passes, we get to hear that someone or other has ended his or her life. If this happens to someone we do not know, the news doesn’t hit us much. However, it becomes difficult to imagine what caused a family member, friend, or even a public figure to take the drastic step. The most immediate question that comes to mind is, ‘Why?’
When it happens with a familiar figure, we often end up blaming ourselves for probably not paying attention to certain obvious symptoms that might have been present while the person was still alive. So, what then, are these red flags that are there to be seen, but still go unseen?
1. People who end their life are often undergoing some mental instability or illness, most common one being Depression, which makes them feel intense emotional pain coupled with feelings of hopelessness, where they can see no way of putting a period to their problems, and they end up taking their own lives. What is even more tragic is, at times, suicides are extremely impulsive rather than being a result of a well-thought-out plan.
2. Undergoing trauma and chronic levels of stress is also a cause of suicidal deaths, which often result from abuse – physical, mental, emotional, and so on.
3. Another reason for suicidal deaths is fear. Fear of academic failure, bullying, public shaming, fear of arrest, financial losses, loss of close friendships, love relationships, loss of jobs, family members – it could be anything! The human mind is a sensitive territory which may go haywire for any of these reasons.
4. At times, being socially isolated can also bring up suicidal thoughts to the mind of a person, which may lead to loneliness and ultimately make the person take his own life.
That apart, there are certain warning signs that are usually exhibited by the person which indicate that they are considering suicide. These include – engaging in conversations that revolve around the topic of death, talking about feeling hopeless, feeling like a burden, sudden withdrawal from family and friends, getting less sleep or sometimes, more sleep than is normal, reacting in an agitated fashion at trivial issues, displaying incessant and chronic mood swings, and so on.
Many-a-time, it is not in our hands to prevent another person from ending his or her life, but, if at all, we do experience abnormality in someone’s behaviour, there are a few steps we could take to dissuade the person from entertaining suicidal thoughts.
Here are a few preventive steps that can be taken:
1. Be upfront and just ask them if they are considering suicide. Research studies indicate that confrontation helps them vent their pain and in turn discourages them from taking the plunge.
2. Lend a listening ear and be there for them without being judgmental. At times, they just want to speak out rather than actually committing suicide.
3. Remove any dangerous items or medication which may aid them to take their lives and create a safe environment around them.
4. Communicate ways of solving life problems, talk about the positives in life, create an optimistic environment around them and keep giving them hope that everything is going to be alright. You never know, that might just do the trick!
5. Politely pursue them to seek medical help and adhere to a schedule of appropriate treatment.
Practically, suicidal incidents often unfold in a manner that leaves us with feelings of despair and regret. We are left with a feeling that we could have easily saved a life by just paying more attention to the eventual suicide-victim. Many-a-time, the urge to take one’s own life is momentary, and if at that very moment, we can timely help them in snapping out of that condition, suicidal deaths can certainly be averted! Hence, stay connected, save a life!
