There are plenty of reasons why people commit suicide

By Melissa Miller
Poca High School

I’m writing this in response to an article in the February 2001 issue of FlipSide titled “What makes people want to commit suicide?” by Ashley Price from Nitro High School.

When I saw the story, the headline jumped out at me. I thought it would be interesting and that maybe it would open a few people’s eyes to suicide, self-mutilation and other situations like that.

I was very disappointed to learn that the author of the article sounded completely one-sided and close-minded. Obviously, the author has never experienced things such as severed family ties, low self-esteem, or terrible teasing and taunting. It’s a shame the author never spoke to someone who has contemplated or tried to commit suicide.

When people hear the word “suicide,” they think (if they are Christians and church-goers) that it’s a sin and you can go to hell because of it. They think only an idiot would kill himself or herself.

In the article, the author asked questions that she never answered. “What would make someone take the life that she has been put here to live, in one of the most selfish acts imaginable?” “What makes a person commit an act of self-destruction?” “What would make someone hurt herself in such a way?”

First of all, although it may seem like “one of the most selfish acts” to some people, do you think people who are planning to kill themselves really worry about whether or not they are doing something selfish? Have you never done something selfish? There’s no way you can answer “no” to that. All people act selfish at one time or another.

Secondly, I believe you have to be very open-minded even to want to know the answers to the questions the author asked. Or, you would have contemplated suicide or self-mutilation yourself, or even tried these things yourself. And when I say contemplate, I’m not saying that you have thought, “Hmm, wonder what would happen if I did this or this?” I’m saying really contemplated it — possibly made a suicide note, taken the blade to your wrists, possibly even put pressure on and cut skin, depending, of course, on how you wish to end your life.

Why do I think you would have to be open-minded or have tried this yourself? Because many people who have asked this question either are close-minded or have never been exposed to this type of thing.

After getting answers to questions dealing with this subject, some of those people who didn’t know the answer before may still be close-minded. Others at least may have an understanding of this supposed “enigma.”

In some places, suicide is something that is never thought of or spoken about, yet in other places it is an everyday thing. You won’t get anywhere by looking in a dictionary, because it would be just that — words. Some people won’t understand that at all without someone to break it down for them.

At times, people can’t find someone to care for them or worry about them. Some people go to others because they want help, but they know they can’t do it alone. What about those who can’t afford help? How are they supposed to go to someone who will help them if they don’t have the money for it? And what about those who don’t want help?

There are many reasons why a teen would want to kill herself. For example, her parents may be going through a rough divorce. She may think it’s all her fault.

What if she’s the oldest and has one or more siblings? That may double or triple the stress level. How is the teen supposed to help her siblings understand that the family is separating? Maybe she is trying to shield her siblings from the pain of what’s going on.

And if the teen is considered mature enough (based on one or more psychological evaluations), she may have the responsibility of choosing which parent to live with after the divorce. She also may have to take into consideration whom her siblings would be better off with.

A kid who goes through a difficult divorce usually grows up fast. All of the combined stress would be enough to break more than a few people, especially if there is no outlet for the stress.

People who are more likely to kill themselves have low self-esteem and low tolerance for stress. Maybe they can’t deal with the stress going on around them. They may have no confidence because they have been ridiculed and taunted in the past. They could put up a front so you’d think their lives are peachy. Maybe they don’t care and let it show.

Try to put yourself in their shoes, or at least understand. Maybe you don’t see yourself doing something like that and for that reason you don’t get it. But know this: There are people out there who go through things every day that would make others contemplate or try suicide — whether it’s noticeable or not.