The tragedy of suicide and how it connects to social media outlets

No matter what you think about publicising emotions on social media, you cannot fail but be moved by this post on Facebook, often placed by those who have lost friends and relatives to suicide, surely the saddest way to leave the world. The left behind want bring awareness to the bottomless aloneness that makes people take their own lives.

“Many people think that a suicide attempt is a selfish move because the person just does not care about the people left behind. I can tell you that when a person gets to that point, they truly believe that their loved ones will be much better off with them gone. This is mental illness not selfishness. TRUTH: Depression is a terrible disease and seems relentless. A lot of us have been close to that edge, or dealt with family members in a crisis, and some have lost friends and loved ones. Let’s look out for each other and stop sweeping mental illness under the rug. If I don’t see your name, I’ll understand. May I ask my family and friends wherever you might be, to kindly copy and paste this status for one hour to give a moment of support to all those who have family problems, health struggles, job issues, worries of any kind and just need to know that someone cares.Do it for all of us, for nobody is immune.”

Depression has a catacomb of root causes: death or loss, conflict, past or present abuse, personal problems, anxiety, social isolation, substance abuse, serious or mental illness, genetics, chemical imbalances, whatever the origin the affected feel overwhelmed with infinite sadness. Some people with depression are still highly functional, they are perfectly hidden depressed people, who look like they have the perfect life but they are prisoners of their secret depression.

Suicide is the last resort for anyone, the really depressed cannot see any options and memories are slim consolation for the bereaved.This reporter went to a service of thanksgiving this week that celebrated the life of a wonderful middle aged man, 500 genuine friends, admirers and his devastated family were there. He was a poet, fisherman, adored sibling and friend, genius economist who could assimilate, analyse and conclude all in one breath, with a maverick foresight on financial outcomes, a man admired by the admired, a man full of kindness to others and yet he could see no worthwhile future.

Depression has a catacomb of root causes: death or loss, conflict, past or present abuse, personal problems, anxiety, social isolation, substance abuse, serious or mental illness, genetics, chemical imbalances.

The last line of the post is important, no sentient being is immune from depression, if someone we know is depressed, make time, listen and ask the right difficult questions that may protect them from harming themselves;develop your empathy for any lost soul, be concerned, talking can be a great relief. It is said that people can seem unusually cheerful before their suicide, as if relieved they have made a decision they will stick to, be vigilant with friends who suffer from depression because sufferers always live in its shadow.