by Nimfa L. Estrellado Straight Talk A website called Stop A Suicide Today http://stopasuicide.org/ recently came to my attention by ch...
Straight Talk
A website called Stop A Suicide Today http://stopasuicide.org/ recently came to my attention by chance.
My first thought was that a website dedicated to suicide must be macabre. However, a tour of the website revealed that a great deal of loving work had gone into its creation. The site’s purpose is to prevent suicide and raise public awareness of the subject.
Philippines’ National Center for Mental Health says its crisis hotline has received 10,544 calls since January 2021. A third of these calls are suicide-related.
While the Philippines has a lower suicide rate than other countries, the figures have steadily risen over a 20-year period from 1992 to 2012. It was discovered that as many as seven Filipinos committed suicide in a single day in 2012. That is a troubling rate of one suicide every three and a half hours.
Trends show the suicide rate to be increasing. Seven Filipinos commit suicide everyday.
When news of Linkin Park singer Chester Charles Bennington’s suicide broke, a number of people on Facebook plied with questions: Is he depressed? Why did he end his life by suicide? What it feels like to want to kill yourself? A couple of my friends confided that they have friends who have depression at levels that drive them to entertain thoughts of suicide. One of my friend revealed that he has five friends who have made several suicide attempts by slashing their wrists.
According to reports Chester Bennington has died by hanging himself. At age 41, the Linkin Park lead singer’s passing has shocked the world. He was known as one of the leading pioneers of the nu-metal genre.
Suicide is a subject which most of us would wish to avoid. We would rather not think about it, let alone discuss it. We are uncomfortable when dealing with people who have been bereaved through suicide and feel helpless when somebody we know is tormented by suicidal thoughts.
Our reluctance to contemplate the issue of suicide is understandable. It is painful and we don’t want to be reminded of our own mortality, but we would be better equipped to deal with the issue if we were brave enough to face suicide and become familiar with its features. The ability to recognise the enemy would give us a better chance of knowing when help should be sought.
Could any of Chester Bennington’s friends have saved him if they had known the symptoms of depression? We will never know but 80% of people who seek treatment for depression are treated successfully. Could you help to save a life? Could you comfort someone who has been bereaved through suicide?
I read a quote “Suicide doesn’t end the pain, it just passes it onto someone else - Reddit” That’s true to life. And they are not just someone else. They are your friends, family, or loved ones. That it’s okay to cry and feel sad, that it’s okay to be angry and punch a pillow or throw stones where they won’t do any harm.
You are enough. You are beautiful. You are worthy of help and love.
Don’t let someone you love or knew died by suicide too. Show care and concern for your family and friends.
Contact HopelinePH, a free 24/7 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention hotline in the Philippines, at (02) 8804-HOPE (4673) Globe: 0917-558-4673 Smart: 0918-873-4673 or toll-free Luzon-wide landline (1553), Globe/TM (0966-351-4518 and 0917-899-8727), or Smart/Sun/TNT (0908-639-2672).
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