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The ‘Suicide’ issue should never be taken lightly. One should be attentive to someone else’s signs of distress, and warning signs of being suicidal as quoted from Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) are such as:
- Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself.
- Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun.
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
- Talking about being a burden to others.
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
- Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
- Sleeping too little or too much.
- Withdrawn or feeling isolated.
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
- Displaying extreme mood swings.
Last year, we have heard news about several suicide cases among students be it in universities, colleges or even high schoolers. In this article, we have connected suicide with campus life and its related issues such as stress, depression among others. Below are the compiled responses of what our writers have to say about this issue.
It’s an undisputed fact that all humans have the right to live. A greyer area however exists within the question of our right to die. Some people argue that we definitely have the right to die as it lies under the simple rule of bodily autonomy. I can slap myself even though it causes me pain. Therefore, I can kill myself even though I will obviously die. It’s basic logical deduction!
Or is it?
No, it’s never that simple when life is of concern. Hardcore supporters of suicide argue that nobody has the right to take a life, even if it’s your own. Every citizen has signed a social contract between the state and the individual. Through this social contract, the individual gives up some of his autonomy to the state in exchange for guarantees of protection and security. Taking your own life is seen as a breach in this contract and is therefore “against the law”. Despite this, its been proven to be quite difficult in prosecuting a dead person for a crime.
By: Clinton Wee Yuan
Going into college and university is definitely a huge step in our lives. Nobody said it was easy, but no one ever said it would be so hard as well. The stress of transitioning into a new environment where you feel like a fish out of water, the stress from your studies and the rapid pile up of assignments, the stress of having to be independent; all these may prove to be too much to handle.
However, always remember that as cliche as it sounds, it is true that things always get better.
It might be stormy now, but it can’t rain forever. Reach out for someone if you’re feeling depressed, be it a family member, a close friend or someone from the counselling unit. There’s no shame in showing your weakness, because it certainly takes a huge deal of courage to show it. So don’t be afraid to open up to someone about how you feel, and I assure you, you’ll look back one day, and be proud of yourself that you have chosen a different path. 🙂
By: Merissa Tan Li Ying
It’s scary and even painful to be all alone and sad inside with thoughts of having no one what can ever understand how you really feel. Even worse is the realization that you understand and you empathize with how the suicide victims felt as they decided to commit suicide; the pain, the agony along with all the emotional breakdowns that drove them to the edge of suicide as they see death as their only solution.
There’s always a second chance, an alternative option for every situation so long as you look at your problem from another point of view.
Death isn’t a solution. There’s always people out there who cares for you.
By: Christopher Liew
Depression is something not to be taken lightly of. Sometimes – actually most of the time – when we confess our feelings of loneliness and isolation to our peers, they regard it as us being attention-seeking or have nothing to do in our own spare time. The truth is: we are not demanding attention but we need your support and love to encourage us to go down this journey call life. A while ago, I guessed I had minor depression.
It seemed rather bizarre to me at first because I was known to my friends as an independent, strong-willed iron fist girl who would not let anything knock her down but this is because this was how I wanted to portray myself. I displayed all these traits because I did not want to seem vulnerable or needy.
I wanted to be someone that everyone can depend on, someone that everyone can run to when they encounter problems and provide them a crying shoulder when they need it. However deep down, I wished that role was reversed. I wanted to talk to someone, to let my feelings out but I was too proud, too egoistic, too caught up in maintaining my “strong-woman” character. Then I broke down completely. I cried myself to sleep, I cried in the middle of the night, suffocating, barely gasping for air, I cried in the shower, I cried at the backseat of the car when no one was looking. Everywhere, I cried, alone, and not a single soul knew about it. Until one day my best friend found out and she was completely shocked but nevertheless, she counselled me until I got better. Besides her, no one else ever knew about my depression phase.
Until this day, this “plague” still haunts me in my nightmare, in the mirror when I look at myself or in my grades. I chose not to tell anyone because I still wanted to perceive myself as being strong, upholding the spirit of female empowerment. I feared that if I shared my story, people’s perspective of me would change and I would no longer be deemed as “independent”. Normally, this kind of stories would end with the author saying that we should talk and confess our dark feelings, that we should not keep it all bottled inside of us; but I can’t, because the truth is, I still don’t know what to do.
By: June Ong
Suicide is so common these days it’s terrifying.
It’s sad, because when one thinks of ending their life, it’s usually because they’ve found no reason to live anymore, or they think ending their lives will solve everything.
It may seem that death will cease the pain – physically maybe, but I believe that what follows death is worse. Though we make our own decisions, ultimately life is given to us by God, and only God can take it away. To anyone who has thoughts of suicide, please think again. Approach people you can trust and tell them how you feel. Someone still cares.
By: Elycia Lee
Life is never easy, is it? For each and every breath you take, a new challenge awaits you, most of which will come at the most unexpected times. Each struggle will undoubtedly tear you apart deep inside and work it’s way to make you succumb to it. However, is life really that bad? Would death make the pain ease away? Is suicide the solution? The answer, is a big NO!
I’ve had my fair share of struggles in life, but then again, everyone is struggling, aren’t they? Each struggle will try to break you apart, but that is the most important fact to consider, they only ‘TRY’ to.
Ultimately, it is your choice to make, and no one else’s. Give in to the struggle, or emerge a victor in life by fighting the challenges head on and showing your mettle by not giving up!:)
By: Tiffany Hoo
Life is like a roller coaster ride. There will always be ups and downs in this journey. Many crumbled and many fell and an individual’s life is so fickle and precious. But how many have actually sit back and see how important our lives are?
‘You only live once’, is a statement that many would be familiar with. But how many has actually taken the time to savor its true meaning? How many has actually cherished each morning that he/ she waken up to?
Life is like an adventure. There are many things left unexplored and untouched. It will be up to us to find it and learn about it. Life is short. So, make every moment count, see every moment like it is the last and treasure them. Get up from a fall. Easier said than done, perhaps, but I believe that everyone has the ability to do so and to look forward to another chapter in life and live it to the fullest.
By: Chloe Kong
People usually fret over the person who has committed suicide or their family members, but how many people actually thought of the impact that it had on the person’s friends? Best friend,as an example. I don’t personally know anyone who has committed suicide but I know it can’t be easy losing a dear friend. If when our best friend goes on a really long holiday we already feel this sadness welling up, what if they’re gone forever? The rest of us can only imagine what that feels like.
Here’s to all the living victims (friends) of suicide cases, god bless you guys and I sincerely hope that you get through this difficult time in your life with much courage.
By: Haritha
