The Concept Of Family As A Support Network, Is It Still Valid In The 21st Century?

Question

It was annunced this week that every 30 seconds someone in the world commits suicide, one of the main reasons given was family problems! So is your family still a reliable source of help when you really need it ? what do you think ? How great is your family to you, could you live without your family, can/could you do without them ?

Answer 1

Pretty loaded questionS within a question! Anyone who comes from a loving, supportive family knows the answer to this, and its YES. -Yet many do not and therefore are without the life experience of knowing the value of a united, supportive family. -And some have lost all their's due to tragedy and their "it" so to speak so their network consists of friends, neighbors, etc.

It all depends on your life and what's in it...if its a dysfunctional family, many want to turn heel and run for the hills. Understandable.

In my case, I could not have made it through my life without the unfledging love and support of two loving parents and a brother and sister who have forever been there for me, and I them. We are now, without parents, but their words still echo in our heads - all 3 of us...and we remember and value those memories and try to live up to our parents worthy and realistic expectations of us. We miss them terribly, but life does go on...the sun rises every morning and sets every evening, in spites of our losses, disapointments and heartaches.

MOST people need someone to talk to, be friends with, connect with. It's a healthy and reasonable expectation of our society and this human existence we call life.

Perhaps the sadest scenario of all, is as you posed, those who give up because they can't cope with either the loveless, or lonliness or sadness they feel. It overwhelms them and the last hold out, is giving up all HOPE. -And without hope, most would feel like throwing in the "towel" of life...That's simply the way we humans are built.

Sincerely,

Grace

Answer 2

I guess I could live without my family if i had to but I wouldn't want to. My family is important to me, they always help me out when I need it and I always help any of them when they need help. I think that's the way it should be but unfortunately that's not always how it is. Many people have family members that have done terrible things to them or that they just don't get along with etc and I can understand how this would be upsetting. But I don't think suicide is the answer, whatever someones problems are they would only be hurting other people by committing suicide, not solving any of the problems.

Answer 3

Family as a support structure? Yes. It can help you simply be giving you a sounding board for your thoughts. If you're sick, they are someone you can turn to. If you area a close family to begin with. Close families are harder to find in this day and age wher both parents work.
There are always going to be bad apples in the bunch. ie. My sister like to try and kill me. Hurt me or anything that causes me pain be it physical or emotional. On advice of my therapist, that family tie was cut. I have not had contact with her for over a year now.
A person's support structure is based on those whom we can trust with our feelings during vulnerable periods. Be it emotional or physical. Some one who will listen and not judge, talk down to or "I told you so."
My support network, Mom, my son, both my daughters, my husband, my friend Debbie. It doesn't have to be a big network. It just has to be one built on trust and love.
Suicide, I don't believe is the failure of that support network but more an emotional response to pain. Too often rational thinking turns and one feels overwhelmed and alone. Withdrawn. With todays society, always coming and going, we tend to take things for granted that if we're alright, so is everyone else. So, a withdrawn soul might feel there is no one to listen and aren't al likely to reach out if no one is noticing.
There are many reasons to count why some feel suicide is the answer. I tried it when I was 15. My daughter tried too when she was 16. My late husbands cousin was the only person I knew who succeeded. My reason, being a girl in leg braces, who would even ask me out if they could get past talking to me. My daughter's reason, She came out of the closet and my late husbands mother told her she was going to hell and that she can chose to not be a lesbian. My husband's cousin's reason, he worked for Garret aviation as a quality control specialist for the plane parts that were manufactured there. He sought counseling because of all the plane crashes that were happening. He felt in some minute way he was responsible. It didn't matter that it was proven that those faulty parts DID NOT come from his facility. It wasn't enough.
With family, if you're honest, and they are too, a family support network can be a strong thing.
I hope I was able to help.