Is society unfair with people who commit suicide?

Question

Many people regards suicide as selfish or coward...it-s not like insulting the memory of that person? (or offending his/her family)

Answer 1

Human beings, like all animals and living things on this planet, have a natural instinct to live and protect ourselves from harm. If somebody has urges to harm themselves or kill themselves, then there is something wrong, unnatural and society should help these sick people.

While I can see why people would think suicide is selfish or cowardly, these people really just aren't able to put themselves into the mind of the distressed, suicidal person. These people are mentally in so much pain that they feel the only way to stop the pain is to end their life. In general I think society tends to taboo suicide, so that when someone does do it, we don't really talk about it at all, especially the family.

Answer 2

Of course it is insulting. Nobody really knows what the person's life was like before commiting suicide. There could have been so many different reasons for doing it including severe mental illness, chemical/medication related side effects. There is definitely a stigma related to suicide and I think it should be talked about more in society. I also think that there should be more research done to educate people.

Answer 3

I think that people who commit suicide have deeper problems than we (as the "normal" ones) can ever comprehend. I do think society is unfair on them. Unless you're in that person's mind and know exactly what they're thinking, you have no right to judge. If something in your life is bad enough for you to warrant taking your own life--like I said, they have some very deeply rooted problems.

However, those who attempt to commit suicide, yet fail--they deserve all the ridicule they can get. If you TRULY wanted to kill yourself, you'd do it. Failures at suicide attempts are simply a way to get attention, and the person attempting suicide didn't really want to do it in the first place--they're seeking attention.

Answer 4

People are probably unfair, but it is kind of understandable. Life is rough. We all have to go through it. Seeing someone else just end their life is a slight to our hope and ability to fight through life. It suggests that life is not worth it. Suicide brings the reality of painful life to our doorstep. So it is natural that people would react strongly against it, because by doing so they may feel they are validating their own continuing life and the trials that they have survived.

Still, it is unfair, because the vast majority of people who kill themselves have serious mental conditions that are often undiagnosed that makes them more susceptible to suicide. Many of them would not even do it had they received the proper attention and help they need. Perhaps people know this deep inside, and their negative reaction is due to guilt. It is like when you catch your spouse cheating and he gets angry and tries to blame you. People react negatively often to deflect blame and guilt away from themselves.

I guess some people could use to step back and consider that we are all different with different experiences and mental conditions and obstacles in our lives. The truth is that if you were in the same shoes as the suicide victim, you probably would do the same thing. So, I guess, I am in agreement with you!

Answer 5

It's not like a suicide victim thought about how much grief this would cause his/her family before they committed suicide. As much as some people think their family does not care at all about them, their family really would miss that person when they are gone forever. So that means that I always will think that suicidal people are selfish!

Answer 6

What I always wonder is: What happened to the person to make them believe the suicide was their only option or way out? Regardless of the method, it is still unfortunate to learn a life has been loss.

The only situations that upset me are the murder-suicides. That person, even though deceased, has a lack of respect for the lives of others.

Answer 7

We run into a conundrum with this issue. On the one hand, we believe as a society that to kill yourself you'd have to have mental issues. Yet on the other hand, at least in America, we really don't believe in mental healthcare (but we like the drugs!), and we say that the person is "selfish."

So are they ill or are they selfish?

Are the terminally ill selfish for wanting to end their lives?

Does the value of life proceed the life itself?

If you know that someone has a family member who has killed themselves, then refrain from voicing your opinions; you wouldn't make AIDS/Dead Baby/Cancer/STD jokes to someone who had experienced it, would you?

Answer 8

I feel bad for them, my heart goes out to them... I used to try to kill myself, And looking back to the time I was so close to succeeding, I can honestly tell you that it is selfish. Now that I have a child, If she tried to kill herself, she isn't thinking about me, her family, the damage she would be doing.

When going through the suicidal emotions- you honestly think of no one but yourself. You don't realize the harm you do to people who love you unconditionally. You are basically telling them that they aren't worth sticking around for. Thats why it is important, if we love someone to never stop trying to help. Even when they are self destructive. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and NO one showed me that, I had to have a child, to completely understand selflessness. Every suicidal thought was gone once I knew that A child relied on me for every fiber of a life she deserved.

Answer 9

I don't think people realize that suicide stems for a mental health issues. If you believe your life is so bad that you have to kill yourself, you have issues. I think suicide is sad, b/c we have all been down in our lives. But, imagine feeling so down about every aspect of your life, you have to kill yourself to escape. It's horrible. I think suicide is a stigma b/c people are so afraid to address the importance of mental health for someones well-being.

Yes, life is rough. But, have you ever felt like you bad luck or misfortune is never going to end. I think people should stop saying, "life is not fair" or " that's life, grow up and get over it" People need to have sometime in life to look foward to. Yes, suicide is selfish; but I sympathize w/ these people.

Imagine a father w/ a young son and wife. He supports both. One day he loses his job, then his wife dies in a car accident and he ends up losing his home. Him and his son then live in a one bedroom apartment in a bad neighborhood, they get robbed and the man gets injured trying to protect his property. He gets sent the the hospital and rakes up thousands in bills. He can't find a job now, b/c he has a years worth of recovery time. His son is living in poverty. He feels he's failed as a parent and nothing will ever be good again. He's depressed, strung out of meds and has already lost his wife. He kills himself, thinking his son will be better off living w/ his grandparents and not w/ his failing father.

Everyone told him to "tough it out" and "this is life" No one offered him any mental health support. He was basically alone w/ a young son and no one to talk to.

Answer 10

I think suicide is the most selfish thing you can ever do. I've known someone who killed himself and I'm angry at him, for his family. I went to the viewing and watched his mom, dad, brother and girlfriend. They were devestated. Nothing in this world is worth causing the people you love that kind of pain. I don't think he's a bad person, but what he did was thoughtless, senseless and selfish.