There is nothing so disturbing about our modern lifestyle as the shocking realization that our children are casually playing with the idea of suicide. Not only this, they are also playing out the drama of attempted suicide and seriously drafting suicide notes in preparation for such an action.
But worst of all, we have the statistics of the numbers of young people who go through with it. The critical age group would seem to be from 15 – 25 years. In one year in Australia, in 2003 there were 270 deaths by suicide in this age bracket.
It is difficult to evaluate how and why this situation plagues our society and threatens its future and what can be done to reduce the problem on a scale grand enough to produce positive results. It could be that we have to deal with each individual case through continuing counseling as well as alerting teachers and parents to the need to teach teenagers ways of coping with negative moods and to remain aware of any indications of severe depression developing in their charges.
In the climate of the present economic downturn, males in particular are in trouble, both in rural and city areas. Both workplaces are threatened. Greater job losses will inevitably increase outbreaks of depression and actions of suicide amongst all age groups.
It is understandably the most demeaning situation for men with lifetime experience in a trades or professions has no hope for anything by rejection of their job applications, regardless of their skills. Increasingly, vacancies will be filled by young applicants.
Some older men and women accept the challenge and re-channel their energies into areas of creative endeavour of their own to establish successful enterprises. Others get more and more depressed and so we have not only our youth but middle aged and elderly people becoming vulnerable to the idea of suicide to escape their difficult circumstances.
Although there is little we can do to help the mental and emotional suffering of others whose choices remain their own responsibility, it does not debar us from being willing to help anyone we meet and who is open to receiving our moral support or even practical help if that is appropriate.
Suicide is instilled in our life teachings as against secular and spiritual law. Although we must keep flexible enough to debate these issues, most of us inwardly tend to believe that it is best to face our difficulties rather than to run away.
Many problems are common to us all and in addition, each of us has unique factors to deal with either in our personality or soul, or in our circumstances. When we overcome, we feel successful. To encourage everyone to persevere is something to remember, as it is important for our own future welfare.
Sally Janssen’s wonderful book “Mental Fitness: The Complete Self-Help Guide”, offers timely solutions. Read more…
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