7,03,000 suicides per year.
With the development, the world faces various crises. Those crises have become things that cause the world to be crushed, and some consequential crises have not been recognised as ‘crises’. ‘Suicide’ is a decisive crisis that has not been recognised. The World Health Organisation indicates that the number of suicide cases globally in a year is about 7,03,000. The World Health Organisation points out that every suicide is a tragedy created for families, communities and entire countries and causes long-term painful effects on other people. Also, it is a severe matter that more people aged 15-29 years tend to commit suicide.
Many international studies have revealed that male suicide rates are as high as 70% to 75%. It has also been revealed that 25% of all suicides are over 60. In the meantime, it has been revealed that people with a low level of education are more likely to commit suicide and that the situation varies from country to country.
A situation that defies religious teachings.
Every religion in the world has shown that suicide is a sin. It is a religious teaching that it should not be done. According to Buddhist philosophy, when discussing it, it can be explained that the animal’s life, soul or being should not be left prematurely without reaching its maximum point. Attainment of eternal liberation is the highest achievement of the being. Therefore, no one should deliberately go through life. The Bible states that animals are born with original sin. It says that to get rid of that birth sin, you have to get rid of sin and unite with God. Also, Hinduism has shown that we should work for Brahmanism or union with the Great Brahma. Accordingly, in every religious practice, there are ideals to be achieved by the animal, and taking life without achieving those goals is not an appropriate action.
However, in the global environment where people believe in religions, a situation has been created in which suicides are increasing daily. The reasons for that should be investigated. The World Health Organisation points out that suicide rates are high in low- and middle-income countries. It is at a level of about 77%. However, as the World Health Organisation points out, this nature has become common in developed countries.
Identify risk groups.
People with disabilities have been identified as a risk group, and impulses in stressful and crises are also a strong reason for suicide. According to the World Health Organisation, the stress caused by financial problems, relationship breakdown, or chronic pain and illness is also a strong cause. Conflicts, disasters, violence, abuse or experiencing loss and isolation also lead people to leave life. Suicide rates are also high amongst at-risk groups such as refugees and migrants, indigenous peoples, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and prisoners are also groups with high rates of suicide.
20% of deaths due to poisoning.
It has been discovered that the use of pesticides causes 20% of global suicides. The World Health Organisation says that this situation is observed in every country. In low- and middle-income countries, suicides such as using insecticides and hanging are commonly reported in rural agricultural areas.
Numerous incidents of individual and collective suicide can be identified. German dictator Adolf Hitler committed suicide alone. The great short story writer Gee De Mopasang died after a suicide attempt in an insane asylum. Bollywood actor Sushant Rajput Singh is the best example. Meanwhile, the media had reported that the death of the famous Hong Kong pop singer Coco Lee was a suicide.
Many examples can be presented for mass suicide incidents. Most of those events seem to have happened based on mythic ideologies. The media reported that 300 people committed suicide by fasting on the birth of a Kenyan pastor. On July 1, 2018, 11 members of the same family hanged themselves in a house in Burari, India. Meanwhile, a week or so ago, it was reported from Sri Lanka that five members of the same family had committed suicide on several occasions. A few weeks ago, a 24-year-old youth hanged himself in a house in Sandarasgama, Eppawala, Sri Lanka. However, the police reports stated that all four brothers of this family had committed suicide on four previous occasions. One of his brothers and sisters committed suicide by jumping on the train in Talawa area, while the other brother died by hanging himself from a mango tree near the house.
Depression, mental illness and mental health deterioration are the main factors that directly affect suicide, and psychologists point out that many people end their lives in such situations. I feel tempted. According to the traditional classification of mental diseases, they are classified as neurotic and psychotic diseases. Anxiety, hysteria, phobia and depression belong to the group of neurone diseases. Mental problems in frustration often cause convulsions, and the emergence of physical problems without sensory causes is a characteristic of hysteria patients. Accordingly, hysteria patients are likely to experience paralysis, blindness, and muteness in a part of the body, and the main reason for this can be identified as the frightening experiences they have faced and the mental traumas they receive from them. Therefore, it can be seen that suicide is common amongst some people who are infected with this disease.
The social environment is one of the leading causes of suicide. Scholars such as Sigmund Freud, Sutherland, and Emile Durkheim have expressed their views on this in-depth, and they have shown that the influence of the sociological theory called socialisation can be recognised as a strong reason for suicide. “The process of adaptation of the individual to the society” is socialisation. It is a matter of socialisation that the individual learns the rules of the society or group, adheres to the accepted norms, is trained in cultural techniques, and recognises the assigned task in the society. However, when there is no balanced existence on matters or a harmful social environment, abnormal conditions develop in the individual.
The present era has led man to a process of isolation. Corona season has taken it to a stronger position. This atmosphere has led to virtual boyfriends and girlfriends amongst the world’s youth. In people who do not deal with society, the power of bearing decreases, and when faced with a substantial matter, it causes uncontrollable emotions. Accordingly, the possibility of committing suicide amongst the youth of today’s society has been increased.
Whether children in countries like Sri Lanka enjoy their childhood correctly is a question. Children are not allowed to do what they want, and in many societies, children have to live like prisoners. For example, how many children who desire to play with water get that opportunity? A child who does not receive that will step into adulthood with distressed emotions. Research has revealed that such issues have led society to focus on unfortunate situations like depression. Therefore, it is the responsibility of adults, including parents, to nurture them, strongly emphasising that “childhood is a child’s right”.
The problems that arise in the family corporation for a small child later cause the child’s personality to collapse, and the nature of the family corporation leads to the development of abnormal behaviours and a distorted mind. For example, the pressures from home and society can be considered as a primary issue for the love that occurs in the new youth. Meanwhile, the percentage of children in families with constant bickering is also high. In some families, the cases of children losing their mother’s or father’s love are also increasing in a situation where divorce increases, the nature of losing parental affection for children can also be seen.
In some families, the tendency of the children to receive the affection of the mother or father during the separation of the parents is also very weak. The main reason for this is new relationships during separation. Another significant issue is that fathers tend to drink heavily during separation. The collapse of family corporations in developing countries such as Sri Lanka has become a strong cause of economic hardship and economic pressure.
A set of recommendations to change the situation.
Recommendations have also been presented to reduce the likelihood of suicide.
- Limiting access to means of suicide (e.g., pesticides, firearms, certain drugs)
- Empower the media to report suicides responsibly.
- Fostering social-emotional life skills in adolescence.
- Early identification, assessment, and management of individuals affected by suicidal behaviour.
- Implementation of the above recommendations based on the context of analysis, multi-sectoral cooperation, awareness, capacity building, financing, monitoring, monitoring and evaluation.
2030 is a big goal.
Psychiatrists point out that the influence of genetic factors can cause conditions such as depression. It is a fact that psychoanalysts point out that sometimes, due to the influence of those genes, there may be suicidal desires.
The World Health Organisation has emphasised that suicide should be considered a priority issue in public health services. Suicide prevention has become a global concern. Actions to prevent suicide to inform society about the global need should be implemented more and more. The World Health Organisation has also presented a mental health action plan. , its primary goal is to reduce the global suicide rate by a third by 2030. However, to achieve that goal, all the world states should emphasise that the full participation of individuals, institutions, international organisations, and society is essential.
