Within
just a week, two high profile celebrities have lost their lives in a most cruel
way.
First, it
was fashion designer Kate spade who hung herself and left a suicide note to her
teenage daughter. Then it was Anthony Bourdain, Celebrity
Chef and CNN food critic who was found
dead in a hotel room in France.
Kate
Spade, 55 died in an apparent suicide on Tuesday June 5, 2018 while Anthony
Bourdain 61, died also from suicide on Friday, June8, 2018.
Both
celebrities had hanged themselves.
I, like many others – worldwide are deepened
saddened by these tragic incidents and thus it’s important to keep their loved ones in prayer during this difficult
period.
But make no mistake about
it – depression and suicide are silent killers.
So too are other mental disorders such as bipolar and schizophrenia.
Even though these issues are sensitive and delicate, we need to come alive on
these matters by discussing it openly and rationally.
Some of the risks factors
of suicide include:
♦ Loss of interest or
pleasure
♦ Insomnia
♦ Decreased appetite
♦ Retardation, fatigue or
agitation
♦ Feelings of
worthlessness, guilt
♦ Impaired concentration,
indecisiveness
♦ Financial distress
♦ Isolation
♦ Personal issues, such
as marital problems
Relationship can be
tricky and not everyone can manage break-ups as it is by no means easy to cope
with. For like grief, the emotional pain
from failed relationships can be overwhelming.
The other important
matter to note is that children and loved ones are in real danger of going
through psychological issues as it can be traumatic for them to cope with loss.
In yet another horrific incident, the media had
reported that a Frenchman had committed suicide at Mecca’s Grand Mosque on
Saturday, June 9. There were no details released on the
identity of the man, or why he threw himself off mosque roof in Islam's holiest
city.
Was it suicide as reported by the press? Or was it a
mental illness such as Bipolar that caused the death.
Patients with bipolar can believe that they can fly
or do the impossible. It is part of the symptoms of the illness.
A case in point is how Blake LeVine, now aged 35 who
as a child believed that he could fly. As a teenager, Blake would spend hours in the library frantically reading all that
he could about how humans could take flight. His parents grew so concerned that
he would attempt it by jumping off of one of New York City’s skyscrapers that
they had him institutionalised. After being hospitalised several times, Blake
was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder.
In another
media report, this time by Channel NewsAsia,on June 14, “SCDF rescues woman
walking on roof of overhead bridge in Yishun”, Singapore Civil Defence Force
(SCDF) officers had managed to rescue a
woman walking on the roof of an overhead bridge.
The woman
was brought to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and was arrested for attempted suicide.
Was this
suicidal depression or was it a mental illness gone untreated?
We need to have a clear
understanding of all types of mental disorders.
Family, friends,
employers, religious groups and the media all have a part to play in helping
depressed people overcome their struggles which can prevent suicide. We can do this by showing empathy and concern
to depressed people coupled with a listening ear; and by being in tune with the
warning signs of depression. We must
never dismiss a cry for help as a sign of weakness or view the sufferer as
being bothersome.
Certainly, suicide
survivours can reinforce the message that taking one’s own life is not the
solution as treatment is readily available and recovery is always
possible. These valuable sharing
experiences can be carried out at schools, workplaces, religious places,
community clubs and during talk shows on radio and television networks where
these issues can be discussed candidly.
Listeners can call in
with their questions and shared experiences. It will be good to also invite
enlightened employers and marriage counsellors who can give guidance and
directions on how to better manage challenges in life’s journey.
In addition, counselling, group therapy and
supportive psychotherapy can give encouragement and support to anyone who finds
life meaningless.
I should additionally add that there are stress management solutions that
are available to provide anonymous education and support which we need to educate
more people about.
Let us not wait till the situation gets out of hand and more tragedies take
place –for one life lost is one life gone too many.
Raymond
Anthony Fernando
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