Suicide

Recently it seems like we've heard of more and more instances of people losing their battles with their own personal demons. We've heard stories of their struggles and their ultimate decision to end their own lives. There aren't many matters considered more serious or grave than the concept of suicide. Whenever we hear about it, it tends to stop us in our tracks and really makes us take a moment to think, reflect, wonder, and mourn. Think about what brings people to that point, reflect on our own lives and what could possibly bring ourselves to such a dark place, wonder what could have possibly been done to prevent such a tragic occurrence, and mourn the sobering loss of human life. Suicide is a scary thing, but what makes it so scary? To me, the scariest thing about it is how easy and accessible it is. For someone who truly wants to end their own life, there are countless sure fire ways to do it. There are high places everywhere, busy traffic, trains, lakes, and readily available substances and objects that could so easily be converted into means for finishing ones self off. What brings someone to suicide? I think there are a great multitude of factors and situations that go into it for each individual. For many I'm sure there were situations or tragic events in their lives that brought them there. Losing a job, losing a loved one, or having one or multiple crucial aspects of their lives suddenly removed probably wouldn't help. Another big factor, I think, is the particular psychological condition that the individual may have. I know from personal experience that depression can be an unbearable weight on someone's life that often plays a large contributing role in the feeling of despair and hopelessness. I also understand that other conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other such psychological ailments are often times a factor in the tragedy. I couldn't possibly imagine the pain that someone might be feeling if they were forced to deal with multiple of these factors all at once, let alone individually. Some people are experiencing suffering that can't be seen on the surface. They may not have physical scars or injuries, but they are in pain none the less and that's what makes it so difficult for us to wrap our minds around. It's hard for the average person to truly understand the battles that some may be fighting underneath the surface, or what can bring someone to such a dark place, but trying our best to get an idea is about all we can do sometimes. Loneliness is a huge factor in suicide, I'm sure, but I think that people on the verge need more than just someone to talk to. They need help from licensed professionals, they need proper psychiatric care and in many cases, medication in order to help them get back to a safe mental state. Suicide is a tragic part of life in this world, but we need to remember that every little thing we do can make a huge difference in someone else's life. What might be something small to one person, might be a gesture that stops another from making a very permanent choice.