Featured, General News
By Christian Chukwu and Immaculata Ejenike
THE increase in suicide cases in our world today, mostly among the youth, call to mind the causes of this demon called suicide, which claims about 800,000 lives every year globally. Nigeria ranks
15th in the world in suicide cases, while Lesotho tops the chart. Seventy-nine people are known to have
committed suicide between April 8, 2017 and May 12, 2020, according to reports by the Daily Trust.
Some schools of thought believe that hardship is responsible for some of the suicide cases, while others think
it could be the search for comfort; that is amazingly elusive. One may wonder why someone will take his/
her life in the midst of plenty.
For instance, a popular America singer took her life when she was found dead in her bathroom.
What do you say to the American billionaire, who lodged in a hotel in Texas, picked up his rifle and
killed so many people before taking his own life. Hardship has been a contributory factor to the causes of
suicide, but most suicide cases over the years have nothing to do with it. But there have been
attributed to what could be described as being unable to get their “want” not even their “needs”.
Life is a process and everything that happens in it follow this principle of ‘process’. It’s therefore
rather pathetic today that people are gradually losing the understanding of life through impatience.
Patience is an expensive commodity in our world today because of “get rich quick” syndrome that is
ravaging our world like the Australian bushfire. Just like the bushfire is becoming increasingly uncontrollable
the same way the issue of suicide needs urgent attention from the government and the entire society.
Parents, schools, churches and work places should join hands and seek an enduring solution
against this “demon”.
Among the youths, the old phrase: “wait for your time” has become “old school” and everyone seems to actualize their desires at their own time and no longer wants to wait for the right time for it.
It is interesting to note that we are not built for the same purpose. You don’t carry load meant for truck with a luxury car. That is the case
of most of us today and when things go wrong, we blame ourselves for what is both our fault and the ones that
are not our fault thereby allowing depression, which is the principal cause of suicide to set in.
Depression is therefore simply defined as a state of mind in human life when he/she has lost hope in him/
herself and what the future holds. Some of the symptoms are loss of interest in almost everything, lack of joy
to mention but a few.
Joy? Joy is an innermost feeling of happiness most time unconditionally and nothing gives sincere joy than
the fact that you are living for your destiny and end-up living in your destiny but you can’t live for the
destiny you have not discovered.
You have to discover your purpose; this will make you understand life and living is what it truly is;
which is “RESPONSIBILITY”.
Let’s begin to think about others, the love they have for us and be more open when we are going through
any ugly situation. Let’s voice our concerns and problems out. Let’s also have the happiness of others in our
heart and be willing to help with anything to put a smile on someone’s face.
Don’t be selfish with your life, live for others and others will live for you. Help people to get what they
need and you will remain in their memory for life.
There is a need for more sensitization on depression and how to handle it when it occurs. The awareness
Should be created just like we now have the spread of AIDS and HIV. Although the HIV/AIDS
has been controlled, but the danger of this killer viral disease is the arrow to the heart and it causes
deep pains to the heart that nobody either religious, social or political group has taken a stand together
to create awareness of this dangerous and secret serial killer called “Depression. Depression kills faster than
AIDS. All hands should be on deck to detect and treat persons suffering from depression so as to check
the increasing cases of suicide in our society.
- Jul 27, 2020 @13:49 GMT|
