Suicide IS NOT Painless

After recent events in my life and the lives of other whom I know, I feel I need to write about the topic of suicide. We have all at one point or another have thought that life is too hard to endure. We have all thought about giving up. That doesn't necessarily mean we want to die, we just grow tired of a difficult situation. But some people who feel like giving up take it one step further. They don't move out from the difficult situation, they become trapped, victims of their own mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical problems. They feel like their issues cannot be solved or fixed, they feel that they are beyond repair. That is usually not the case, but when a person is in such a dark place with no sense of light for the future they have lost all hope.

Suicide is more common than we all think. It may not have directly affected us or be portrayed in the news, but it is out there. Some people see suicide as a sign of weakness, a cry for help, a person who is in need of attention. Suicide is seen differently within other cultures. Western religions and some Asian religions, such as Hinduism, see it as dishonorable and a crime. The people who follow these religions see it as an offense towards their god or gods. The Japanese viewed a certain form of suicide, seppuku, as a form of trying to make up for their failure. Despite varying views on suicide, almost one million people worldwide die of suicide each year. Right now the current population in the world is 6,728,105,875 people. So in the grand scheme of population, one million people dying of suicide may not seem like a big deal. But, it is.

Thoughts and actions of suicide not only impact the person who is directly suffering, they impact that person's circle of friends and family. The friends and family may worry about this person, they may try to get them help, or in some cases, they turn their back. The family and friends may begin to blame themselves thinking "Where did I go wrong? What did I do wrong? Was I a bad parent, sister, brother, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or friend?" And instead of trying to help the person who is directly suffering, they become trapped, a victim to their own thoughts and emotions. When that happens, they can no longer help the person in need, they become absorbed in their own problems. The last thing a suicidal person needs is everyone turning their back. Some suicidal people say they don't want or need help, they feel they don't deserve help. These people feel they don't deserve help because they also feel they don't deserve to live.

Many people who are suicidal also do not complete suicide on the first attempt. In a way, there is a sort of trial and error process. There are many myths when it comes to suicide and how to die. Sometimes people panic and they are not able to fully carry through with their actions. But, the more attempts a person has, the more likely they are to eventually complete their attempt. Over half of the suicides that occur in the United States are completed by the use of firearms. Asphyxiation, which happens when one is hung and toxification, which happens when one is poisoned, accounts for about 40% of all suicides. The rest of all suicides are completed by blunt force trauma, along with intentional drowning and blood letting just to name a few.

And suicide does not always mean a person is depressed, it can take place for a variety of different reasons including.

• Suffering.
• Love that is not openly reciprocated.
• Grief.
• Stress.
• Philosophical or ideological motives.
• Escape from abusive environment.
• Traumatic injury.
• Financial loss.
• Loneliness.

If you know someone who is having suicidal thoughts please visit Suicide.org. There is information on what to do and how to help a person depending on their situation. If you feel suicidal, please call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Suicide is preventable and no one is ever beyond repair. In the darkest shadows of night there is always a glimmer of light and hope.

Sincerely,
Advice Queen Jean