Written by: Aayusi Shrestha - 26002, Grade IX
Posted on: 13 February, 2023
There are a lot of misconceptions about suicide and people calling it selfish is one of them. These false beliefs make it more difficult for the person suffering and makes them scared or helpless to get help or support. In my opinion suicide is not selfish at all. By that I am not encouraging people to suicide but I am tired of people assuming or saying suicide is selfish. A lot of people I have met in real life or even people online agree that suicide is selfish. However, I don’t. A lot of people think suicide is selfish because to the people who lose their loved ones because of suicide it may lead to anger and frustration. However, majority of the people who commit suicide don’t do so because they do not care about people who are in their life. Most of the time they are in so much pain that they feel like suicide is the only option to end their pain.
Suicide is frequently characterized as a selfish act by plenty of people. After all, why would anyone wish to cause unimaginable sorrow and suffering for their surviving loved ones? We must recognize as a society that mental health often lead to suicide. Suicide may seem to be the only option for someone who can no longer stand the emotional torment they are going through. Many people who are considering to commit suicide or are having suicidal thoughts are unable to access the resources that will enable them to live long and fulfilling lives. People struggle with their thoughts and feelings as a result. Their capacity for making decisions is frequently impaired, which might result in suicide attempts. Even in Nepal there are not a lot of Suicide Prevention Lifelines. Suicidal individuals are very concerned about their relatives and friends. They can think it would be simpler for their loved ones if they weren't around, or that they are a burden. It would not be deemed selfish to think in this manner. Additionally, most people who have suicidal thoughts do so as a result of trauma, and frequently, their families are the ones who traumatize them, so we can't really describe them as selfish. Suicide is not a choice, thus society needs to stop labeling it as selfish. Just as people do not choose to experience physical discomfort or illnesses like cancer or corona, neither do they choose to experience mental illnesses. By promoting the discrimination and stereotypes around suicide, calling it selfless could prevent someone from getting help when they most need it. Instead than criticizing suicide as selfish, we ought to support those who are considering suicide. We should make a secure environment for them. The burden placed on those who suffer with suicidal thoughts has to be lessened, not increased. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicide thoughts, you should go to the nearest urgent care right away or dial the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. We ought to visit a psychiatrist as well. Finally, I want to emphasize that we should all avoid making misconceptions about suicide and instead support people who are going through hard times and diagnosed with mental disorders.
