‘Through early morning fog I see…’
Depression can often bring about a frame of mind that can turn to thoughts of suicide. Some call it a cowardly way out but it could be looked upon the last resort of a desperate person.
A recent study has shown that Finland has recently significantly reduce it’s once bleak record of being one of the world’s suicide capitals over the last 15 years with the figure for the number of people taking their own lives being reduced by 40%.
In 1990, 30 per 100,000 committed the act and thankfully that figure has reduced to 18 out of 100,000. In Ireland the figure is around 600 people per year. Regardless of the statistics, suicide is still a frightening thing to comprehend.
(Is Suicide a Choice?) No. Choice implies that a suicidal person can reasonably look at alternatives and select among them. If they could rationally choose, it would not be suicide. Suicide happens when all other alternatives are exhausted — when no other choices are seen.
Adina Wrobleski
We go to extreme lengths to prove things to others and to ourselves at times. Some of us will do anything for someone we love and sometimes when we lose that loved one, we go to great lengths to prove that they were wrong for leaving us.
The mind is a fragile thing, of that there can be no doubt. I would venture a guess that the majority of suicide attempts are a cry for help. Depression allows a thought process whereby you become so insular that you start to believe there is no one else around that can help or that you can talk to. Suicide, I would argue, is the next step up.
To put yourself in the position where your next decision will result in the end of your life is something that is incredible to comprehend. You may read this now and think “what could be so bad that would make you want to end it all?” Circumstances change and different issues affect people in many ways. If it didn’t we would all be robots.
Thankfully there are more ways to treat depression and it is not the taboo that it once was. Often men would be too stubborn to talk about their problems because you were not a man if you did.
I think the main thing to take from all of this is that you have to have some small belief that someone does care for you and is willing to listen, offer advice and any help they can give. So from that point of view there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Unfortunately some never realise this or those that are around never let their guard down long enough to show the person who is depressed with suicidal tendencies that there is someone willing to help.
Hold on to what is good even if it is a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe even if it is a tree which stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do even if it is a long way from here.
Hold on to life even when it is easier letting go.
Hold on to my hand even when I have gone away from you.
Unknown
Tuesday, September 18th, 2007 and is filed under Thoughts & Questions, Views on News.
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Mary fazey Says:
Your words on depression are wise coucil
I have experianced it many times in my life my faith has kept me going though in really difficult times I have deeply questioned it
I am now on a cancer journey and found hope in your words
Thankyou
September 20th, 2007 at 4:15 am
Ann Says:
Thanks, Mike, for raising this issue. The prevalance of suicide in our country and even in our neighbourhoods makes me question if we as a Church are doing enough? I thought Mary’s words were encouraging to others out there who might have had similar experiences.
Does having a faith reduce the likelihood of suicide, is believing in God enough to turn one’s thinking round from suicide to hope, or do we need to do much more practically to reach out to people? How best do we help those who live on the streets or on the margins? How do we convince them of the love of God? These people need to encounter Christ in their daily lives, if they are to be given something to cling on to. Of course some will say that is too simplistic, there wil always be those who will commit suicide, no matter what. That might be true, but there will always be those who will respond to Christ’s love and step back from the precipice, and if we as Church can play any part in that process, it would be wortwhile indeed. I acknowledge the good work that does go on, but with rising numbers of suicides, it no longer seems to be enough.
September 22nd, 2007 at 8:07 pm