It is very important to know the reasons why people commit suicide. At least, it would afford us the opportunity to know why it is assuming an alarming dimension. And also to help us figure out how to curb it. As I did say in my previous post, suicide is an ugly trend that has permeated the different strata of human society. It is a social menace that has now assumed a dangerous and worrisome global dimension. I also said that an unfulfilled life is a hotbed of suicide this is because it opens up the door to some of the vices which if not well managed could lead to one contemplating suicide option.
In this post, I shall explore some of the reasons why people commit suicide do manifest in an unfulfilled life, and how to deal with them. And if we want to nip this malaise called suicide from the bud it is pertinent we know why people commit suicide. Obviously, we can only win the fight against suicide if we are well-informed about the reasons and bravely handle them. These vices include;
The Agony of Shame
The agony of shame is one of the reasons why people commit suicide. It comes in different forms and shades. It could be the shame of failure, betrayal of trust, or disappointment. And many because of shame have committed suicide. Instead of enduring the stigma of shame, they have opted for suicide. The Japanese samurai were notorious for this kind of suicide. They were known to be good at ‘honor’ suicide called seppuku or hara-kiri as it is called in the west. They prefer to die ‘honorably’ than to bear the shame of defeat or failure. Contrary to their belief there is no ‘honor’ in taking one’s life.
Hence, we can now see here how shame if left unabated can trigger the urge for one to take his or her life. Shame is a precipitation of an unfulfillment. They see their failure as a shameful thing and had to take their lives to end the shame. It could happen in any area of life, even in the area of personal values. For example, a well-known public official who has been entrusted with public funds reneged on his integrity and dipped his hand into the public till. He has fallen below expectations and betrayed the public trust. And when he was caught and tried for embezzlement, he decided to take his life. Instead of living with the stigma of corruption or being labeled as an ex-convict, he decided to end it all.
The Big Deal
The big deal here is not for one to end one’s life. Everyone must understand that the stigma of shame does not end with the taking of their own life. The shame lives on even long after we are gone with our generation unborn. In fact, when one commits suicide the stigma is doubled coupled with the shame of failure. The best bet would have been to examine the probable reasons for the failure and defeat in life and work towards redeeming the situation. To do that you must tow the path of honor by planning well to avert the shame of failure.
Burden of Guilt
The burden of guilt is also another reason why people commit suicide. Guilt can degenerate into suicide if not well managed. When one is laden with the burden of guilt in one’s heart it could also make one consider suicide as an option. I know of a young girl who attempted suicide because of the guilt of stealing from her mistress. She was such a nice girl but yielded to the temptation of stealing and was caught red-handed in the act. The burden of guilt was so much on her because she had reneged on the good standard she was known for.
However, when the guilt became unbearable she fetched and drank insecticide to end her ‘miserable’ life. The effect of her action was calamitous as the corrosive substance ruptured her throat and she started vomiting blood. It took extensive surgery and Medicare to correct it. She would have killed herself all because of guilt, but she survived it.
Well, for the question of guilt as a reason for suicide, every one of us must understand that we are not superhuman. We are mere humans and as such not infallible. We can still make mistakes but we must as much as possible avoid regrettable actions that will bring guilt. Always think before you act. A lot of people act before they think which is why they always regret their actions and are saddled with the burden of guilt. The earlier we understand this, the better for us as it would curb the incidence of guilt as a reason for committing suicide.
Financial (Economic) Reasons
We can consider Financial or economic reality as a reason why people commit suicide or take their lives. However, it depends on the circumstance. Many have taken their lives because of negative financial or economic realities. Financial or economic realities like financial loss, bad loans or mortgages, poor standard of living, bankruptcy, and high indebtedness have made many take their own lives.
What is your financial or economic reality? Is it robust or are you struggling financially? Well, to handle financial problems you must understand that your life is worth more than all your financial assets put together. Whatever financial trouble you encounter is just temporal and does not warrant the taking of life. Understand that with innovative ideas you can bounce back on your feet financially. There are measures you must take to overcome financial challenges. These include properly investigating any investment you want to make as not all investments are healthy. Do not be motivated by greed in any investment you make rather take time to assess the risk involved. This will reduce financial loss to the barest minimum.
Curtail Your Debt Limit
Also, you must try as much as possible not to overstretch your debt limit. In addition, you must not spend more than your income. All these are measures that will help you to effectively manage your finance, they also guarantee financial fulfillment. On the other hand, the government should consider improving the standard of living of its citizens. By investing in education, and health care services, curbing inflation, creating jobs, and boosting the economy. And by creating a more conducive environment for businesses to thrive. All these measures will make the economy robust and attractive to foreign direct investment (FDI). It will also improve the financial realities of the citizens.
However, it is an irreconcilable fact how a person with one of the best brands in the world; financially sophisticated and robust can opt for suicide. Hence, if somebody who is stable with a positive financial reality could take his or her life then there is more to suicide than meets the eye.
Terminal Illness
This is another probable reason why people may consider the suicide option. Many people have taken their lives all because they were diagnosed with certain incurable illnesses. The issue here is not whether or not you have an incurable or terminal illness. But how well you are able to manage the situation. Are you contemplating taking your life because you are living with cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, or any other terminal illness? The solution is not in killing yourself but in how well you manage the illness.
It may interest you to know that many people who are diagnosed with these deadly illnesses are living longer than expected. Many of them are still living because they rose above the challenge of their illnesses and managed the situation well. Understand that terminal illness is not a death sentence or a hopeless situation as some would think but it depends on your attitude. Now that you have known why men commit suicide don’t kill yourself; you have the option to live well and long enough even with that terminal illness if you manage it well. Remember I told you earlier that there is more to suicide than meets the eye?
TO BE CONTINUED ….