My Many Introductions to Suicide
I was introduced to suicide at the age of 13 when my friend’s sister hung herself. Her parents had no idea that she had depression.
This is when I learnt that the jokes which are not taken as jokes need to be stopped.
I was introduced to suicide at the age of 14 when I was constantly thinking of self-harm by cutting the newspaper in class, hoping my finger would cut, and I would bleed to death.
This is when I learnt that self-harm tendencies are to be talked about.
I was introduced to suicide when my friend drank phenyl, she threw her books aside, her parents thought she would come out of her room soon. Maybe, space is all she needs, and, maybe, she did need her space. But.
I was introduced to suicide when a friend ate 25 flexons with a hope to die. She couldn’t see her family, how ‘hurt’ her family would be or friends.
This is when I learnt suicide can be seen as selfish.
I was introduced to suicide as I became a counsellor when I saw my client share her thoughts and actions and I knew, suicide is depression gone far.
As I share about suicide, I know, most of us see it as a selfish act, someone who’s weak would do it, that person is definitely a coward as she/he couldn’t fight it. I won’t necessarily agree or disagree with you. All of us are entitled to have our opinion.
But, tell me, criticizing, questioning, forming judgement about the one who has died, would it alleviate the pain of the ones left behind or, would it, would it aggravate? And, does it create an open space for those feeling suicidal, would the gates be open or shut mid-way?
The truth is, no one knows how we would react if we would’ve been in their position, battling an un-winnable war and we’re lucky to have not dealt with their reality.
Imagine, they already have lost the hope to live and, we, swoop in with our statements which we think will help them, but rather, pushes them to believe, they really do have no one. Rather than stigma, what they need is -
Compassion — Hugs — Listening — Open dialogue — stop working on the preconceived notion of how suicide is selfish — stand up to stigma — be kind.
What all of us deserve is, LOVE.
To World Suicide Prevention Day!
Sending hugs.
