Taking one’s life may seem like the only escape from suffering to the person contemplating suicide, but it is never the solution from society’s perspective.
The phrase “put yourself in his shoes” is more fitting before making any comments about the incident. We all come from different backgrounds and have unique perspectives on life. At our lowest moments, the support or discouragement from those around us-family, friends, or others-can deeply impact us. But in any case, can ending one’s life ever truly be justified?
The Japanese are familiar with harakiri, an honorable way to end one’s life. Death is inevitable for all of us, but dying before one’s time is something that has occurred not only today but also throughout history.
I know someone who, not out of despair but out of fear of facing the future and the unknown, attempted to end his life decades ago. But God spared him from that fate, and his continued life has become a blessing not only to his family but to many others.
In my youth, we had a neighbor-the son of a lawyer and a classmate of my sister-who took his life by strangulation with a belt tied to a doorknob. This happened in the 1980s. In the 1990s, our neighbor’s daughter, only 18 years old, attempted suicide by drug overdose. Thanks to my brother John, she was rushed to the hospital in time and later secured a job at a bank. Just a month ago, a young man hanged himself, and it took three days before his family discovered his suicide. More recently, social media was shocked by the news of Emman Atienza’s death, reportedly by hanging, according to reports.
The occurrence of suicide, although nothing new to our society, has significantly increased in recent years. In the Philippines, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority shows a 57% rise in the suicide rate in 2020 compared to the previous year. Globally, over 720,000 people die by suicide annually, and suicide was the third leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds as of 2021.
Suicide cases has been on the rise since 2006 and COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend. The PSA reported a 57% increase in the suicide rate in 2020 compared to the previous year. By 2021, an estimated 1.5 million Filipino youth had attempted suicide. In 2023, nearly 30% of suicide deaths were among individuals aged 15 to 24.
While taking one’s life may appear as an escape from pain to those suffering, it is never the real solution from the perspective of society and those who love them. Understanding and empathy, the act of stepping into another’s shoes, are crucial before passing judgment. Suicide is a complex issue shaped by diverse personal and social factors, and its rising incidence is a grave call to action. By extending compassion, support, and timely intervention, we can offer hope and healing to those struggling, reminding them that life, even with its darkest moments, holds the potential for renewal and blessings that emerge from surviving the storm. ||
