In a time when every aspect of popular culture needs a special day to honour or recognize a phenomenon, there are few we embrace as solidly as World Suicide Prevention Day.
Not that long ago suicide was still a taboo subject, barely whispered about.
As society has evolved and its collective thinking has become more about understanding than judging, the subject of taking one’s life has been pulled from the shadows into the light of day.
It deserves to be talked about and better understood. If one life is saved through such an exercise, it will have been worth it.
We don’t pretend for a moment to be an expert on the subject. Having lived a fairly worldly life, we have had the opportunity to meet all kinds of people, from all walks of life. There have been lots of chances to talk to those people and hear a little about their story.
Mostly there are happy talks about goals, family and accomplishments, but very often people also suffer from a sense of sadness and regret. For a layman like ourselves, it appears these fluctuations on the happy scale seem to ebb and flow with the crises of life.
The trouble for most people starts when they can’t get up again. It’s a tough haul back.
As strange as it sounds, there is no perfect storm when it comes to suicide. There isn’t a particular attribute or set of indicators that we are aware of that makes ending a life an option. It’s a very determined personal decision and often families left in the wake of such a circumstance are filled with questions and grief, perhaps even misplaced blame.
Those at risk of harming themselves may have deep-seated issues or a chemical imbalance that can be treated by a health professional. No problem can be too great or circumstance so impossible that suicide is viewed as a viable solution.
The internet sure hasn’t cured alienation. Despite its great promise as a source of knowledge and connectedness with other people, it seems to us to be a lonely place. People can quite easily disengage from family and friends.
In more heinous quarters, it is a place for preying on people in need of medical assistance. We hazard to guess that some warning signs, such as being overly quiet or withdrawn are more easily masked by a digital lifestyle where people are immersed in technology.
Throughout schools and workplaces there is a better sense of awareness about mental health. Events and programs have been designed to educate and help educators and managers foster a better degree of wellness for students and employees.
In a world that seems to be increasingly on fast forward, we owe it to family, friends and colleagues to take a step back and really listen. We are not talking about a fleeting moment either – we are talking about taking time to show concern and empathy for others.
Through listening, we learn.
