Suicide as a Means of Communication?

Why do People Consider Suicide?
Suicide is not random; it is not done without purpose. It is a way out of a problem, or a crisis, or an unbearable situation. Suicide is both a movement away from pain and a movement towards the ending of consciousness. Thus people consider suicide for a number of reasons.

Suicide as a means of communication
A person who actively considers suicide may be trying to communicate an intense, deeply-felt ’message’ to another person, to their family, their peer group or to society in general. The message may be simply ’I am suffering, I cannot cope, I cannot go on.’ Suicide also may be a way of striking back at others (’I hate you’), or of persuading them not to take an unwanted action (’Don’t do it’), or of expressing feelings without using words (even ’I love you’).

Suicide because life is no longer worth living
Feeling troubled, isolated, inadequate, or alienated from family, friends or from society, may result over time in ’depression’. The loss of a loved one, through death or separation or rejection, or the loss of good feelings about oneself through failure in achievement or in important relationships may deeply intensify unhappiness.

Impulsive suicidal behaviour
In moments of deep anger, hurt, disappointment or frustration, a person can react with unplanned suicidal behaviour. In reality, sudden impulsive reactions to stress arise from unsuccessful struggles with the tensions and confusions of living. Thus, such actions are not as random or impulsive as they first appear.

Serious illness and fear of the future
Constant pain, a fear of incurable suffering or of a perceived inability to cope with the future can lead to thoughts of suicide as a means of escape.

So if someone is indicating suicide listen to them very deeply, you may save a life.

posted by Robert Heard at 8:59 AM