Why Do People Commit Suicide?

There is nothing more tragic than knowing someone committed suicide. Life is a precious gift, and every human being deserves to experience the beauty of life. But sometimes circumstances and people around you fill your mind with negative thoughts and blur your vision to see the beauty of life. The miseries and the adversities of life become bigger than the blessings of life. The uncertainty about the future haunts the mind and creates doubts about having a positive outlook on the future.

A long time back, when I was in college, we got the shocking news about the sudden death of our classmate. Later on, we found out that she committed suicide at the age of 18. She used to have mood swings, but we could never have imagined that someone like her, who was good at studies, and very pretty, could end her life. Later we found out that she was a victim of sexual abuse. Due to the stigma attached to sexual abuse and mental health, she suffered in silence. She was scared to share her pains, and eventually, she resorted to ending her life as she believed there was no escape from this pain.

Reasons for Committing Suicide

It’s difficult to find out the exact reason that led a friend, family member, or celebrity to commit suicide. There may have been no clear warning signs, and you may wonder what clues you might have missed. Often, many factors combine to lead a person to the decision to take their own life. A few of them could be as follows:

Depression – A silent killer

Depression is one of the leading causes of suicide. It is a silent killer, which is most often accompanied by suicidal thoughts. It is like a bottomless pit. Once a person develops depression, then tends to sink deeper into it.

Loss or Fear of Loss

Many people commit suicide when they lose their loved ones. Most of the time, their loved ones occupy a major part of their lives. Over a period of time, they tend to get dependent on them. When they lose a loved one, they give up hope of having a good life without them.

It is indeed unfortunate to lose a loved one, but it is important to realize that they may not be a part of your life anymore, but you have your life ahead. They have been part of your journey for some reason. You need to realize that you need to honor their presence to move on in life.

In some cases, just the fear of losing a loved one or losing a job makes them give up on life. Such fear is usually associated with the unbearable consequences, which they have been contemplating in their minds only.

Chronic Pain and Illness

In the case of having chronic pain or illness with no hope of a cure or reprieve from suffering, suicide may seem like the only option to end the continuous misery. In some countries, assisted suicide is legal for this very reason.

According to a study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, the following health conditions were associated with a higher risk of suicide.

Asthma

Back pain

Brain injury

Cancer

Congestive heart failure

Diabetes

Epilepsy

HIV/AIDS

Heart disease

High blood pressure

Migraine

Parkinson’s disease

Chronic pain can also bring on anxiety and depression, increasing your risk of suicide. According to research, people with chronic pain are four times more likely to have depression or anxiety than those who are pain-free.

The feeling of loneliness or Social Isolation

The digital era has brought everyone closer but has taken away the human touch from relationships. Many people are glued to their social media accounts all day long, but they do not know what their family members are going through. They may have millions of followers or friends on social media, but there is no one in real life to share their sorrows and happiness. Struggling in life without social support instills a feeling of loneliness and social isolation.

Cry for Help

Sometimes people attempt suicide not so much because they really want to die, but it is simply a cry for help. They do not know how to get help, and committing suicide seems to be a way to register a protest against the world and how much they have been hurt.

Hopelessness

According to several studies, hopelessness is one of the major causes of suicide. People commit suicide when they believe there is no way out of their current situation, but in reality, there is no problem without a solution. It is just a matter of looking in the right direction. Sometimes the conditions are too overwhelming and blind a person to see the opportunities in front of them. In that case, it is best to seek help.

How to help someone with Suicidal thoughts

When you see someone struggling with depression, be there for them.

Be kind to them – They may not respond to you initially, as many people are shy to open up and discuss their problems with others. Your kindness towards them will help them open up gradually.

Listen to them – When they share their problems, listen to them actively.

Accept them and empathize with them – Do not judge them or argue with them. Try to understand the problem from their perspective.

Don’t give them a lecture about the value of life or argue that suicide is wrong – The last thing they want to hear about is the lecture about the value of life because they have already lost their interest in life. Instead, try to offer them help in dealing with the problem at hand.

Offer them hope – This is the best thing you can offer to anyone because when a person has decided about suicide, they believe that they have reached the point of no return. Your fresh perspective about a situation may help them to see that life ahead can be better than the current situation.

Encourage them to seek help – It is always wise to seek help from close friends, family members, or from professionals. Help them realize that looking for help is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness. When you seek help that means you have the will to change your current situation.

There are a lot of people suffering in silence. Be there to help them. Lend them an ear to listen to their problem. Just a simple act of listening to them may save someone’s life. Let’s save lives.