Protecting society from the curse of suicide

S.M. Shahrear Akhlaque brPEOPLE talk about suicide like it's a very appealing story which needs to be spread out round the locality. The present dilemma regarding suicide, particularly in Bangladesh, proves that most of the people are facing terrific problems. They are now in great depression and subsequently choose the safe way of suicide to hide himher (self) from the known face. Nearly a million people worldwide commit suicide each year, with anywhere from 10 to 20 million suicide attempts annually. About 30,000 people reportedly kill themselves each year in the United States of America. brThe exact number of suicides is likely higher because some deaths that were thought to be an accident, like a single car accident, overdose or shooting, are not recognized as being a suicide. Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death among the males and the 16th leading cause of death among the females. It is the third leading cause of death for people between 10 and 24 years of age. Trends in rates of suicides of teens from 15 to 19 years of age indicate that from 1950 to 1990, the frequency of suicides increased by 300 per cent and from 1990 to 2007, that rate decreased by 35 per cent.brThe way societies view suicide varies widely according to culture and religion. For example, many Western cultures, as well as mainstream Judaism, Islam, and Christianity tend to view killing oneself as quite negative. One myth about suicide that may be the result of this view is considering suicide as always the result of a mental illness. Some societies also treat suicide attempt as if it were a crime. However, suicides are sometimes seen as understandable or even honourable in certain circumstances, such as in protest against persecution (for example, hunger strike), as part of battle or resistance (for example, suicide pilots of World War II; suicide bombers) or as a way of preserving the honour of a dishonoured person (for example, killing oneself to preserve the honour or safety of family members). Views on suicide have been influenced by cultural views on existential themes such as religion, honour, and the meaning of life.brMost Western and some Asian religions -- the Abraham religions and Hinduism -- consider suicide a dishonourable act; in the West it was regarded as a serious crime and an offence towards God due to religious belief in the sanctity of life. Japanese views on honour and religion led to seppuku, one of the most painful methods of suicide, to be respected as a means to atone for mistakes or failure or a form of protest during the samurai era. In the 20th century, suicide in the form of self-immolation has been used as a form of protest, and in the form of kamikaze and suicide bombing as a military or terrorist tactic. Sati was a Hindu funeral practice in which the widow would immolate herself on her husband's funeral pyre.brDepression is a serious mood disorder that affects the way a person thinks, feels and acts. It is not just feeling blue for no reason for a day or two. It is a lengthy pit of despair where hope is just a memory and suicide appears to be a reasonable, real choice. Suicide will end a person's emotional suffering instantly, and it makes the person feel like they are removing one of the causes of pain and suffering for others in their lives as well.brEven though we may rationally believe that suicide fixes nothing; to someone who is suicidal, it appears like a real answer to all or most of their problems. No money, no job End my life and stop being a burden on society. The cause of pain to someone you love End my life and stop being a source of pain to that person. Feelings of depression that seem not only to never end, but get worse with every passing day End my life and stop feeling so much emotional pain.brWhat a lot of people who have never experienced a serious depression or suicidal thoughts don't understand how could someone feel as hopeless and depressed as to consider ending their entire life The answer is often rooted in how hopeless and endless the depression seems to be. People who are suicidal are usually in the grips of a serious and untreated (or under treated) depressive episode. Many people can hide such emotional pain very well, and pretend to be okay. But underneath, they may be in extreme agony and in need of help.brA big part of depression is thinking irrationally. This means a person is putting together the pieces of their life in a way that wouldn't make sense to most others. There is an overemphasis on some pieces or some feelings that others would think are being blown out of proportion. But someone who is depressed often can't think any differently -- the depression is causing them to emphasize or focus on things that only contribute to the depression. This creates a snowball effect that often lands someone who is seriously depressed at the door of considering suicide. The key to stopping the snowball effect before it is too late is to acknowledge the pain and agony, and get help. brNow the question is, how could we protect ourselves from the tendency to suicide A recent research by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation says that, those engaged in sex work contain the traditional tendency of suicide. In the given questionnaire by Rainbow there were several questions about alternative to prostitution. Then the sex workers mentioned suicide as some of them have no other substitute. However, they added, The responsibilities of our younger brothers, sisters, parents and even some nearest relatives are to safeguard us from this self-destruction and make us still breathing. So the report suggests that we should bear some norms, values, moral and positive feeling for our family which will be treated afterward as The power house of energy. brThe writer is Migration Researcher and can be reached at Email shahrear100@ gmail.com