Editorials

#YEAR10PROBLEMS

16 March 2015

By Lauren E. White

Ignorance to suicide

It’s Monday again and the beginning of a new week. Because of that thing called optimism, I believe that everyone who reads this column this week should change their behaviour if it fits into the description below. Monday means a fresh start (and tired eyes) so we can start to change the way we throw around words.

Many people our age like to make fun of serious things that have a huge impact on people’s every day life. There are lots of jokes and frankly immoral comments about ‘killing myself’ going  around lately that are particularly to do with small things that simply make us slightly unhappy. A lot of the time, people like to say ‘I’ve got maths next, I’m going to kill myself’, or ‘I really can’t be bothered, I’m actually going to commit’. I, for one, am sick of hearing those ignorant and dismissive comments. While I hate to burst everyone’s bubble, suicide isn’t a joke. We have to stop using it so loosely in the ways we do and we have to respect that suicide is a serious issue that people genuinely face in their life. While you have maths for one hour, people physically feel sick and constantly think about ending their life because it’s all too much.

So, Monday is here and if you’re one of the people who do what I said above, please have a think. Think about how you may be hurting someone and offending them. Think about how horrific and thoroughly painful it must be to wake up each day wanting to die. When you’ve done that, stop joking around with suicide and stop using it as though it’s a simple term and nothing to take seriously. Suicide isn’t a joke so don’t try to make it one.

 

If you struggle with suicidal thoughts or feel as though things are getting the better of you, the numbers and links below will be beneficial to you.

ChildLine – 0800 1111

Samaritans – 08457 90 90 90

Rethink Mental Illness – 0300 5000 927

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