Eliminating stigma
on suicides and raising awareness
Article 29.
- (1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
- (2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
- (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
My
name is Rachel Smith and I am currently enrolled in the Master’s program of
Social Work at Fordham University. I am
writing this to educate you on the increase of suicides. It has been two years since I have lost my uncle
to suicide and four years since I have lost one of my close friends to suicide. Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of
death among adults and accounted for 30,559 deaths among people aged 18 or
older. This means that more people die from
suicides than HIV/AIDS or homicide. That does not include adolescents or those
that were not reported. That statistic
alone shows that this is an undeniable social problem that needs to be
addressed. Although these statistics
show this problem is affecting our society, we fail to take action. To my understanding there are restrictions to
covering suicides in the media and I believe this is creating and maintaining a
stigma on suicides. . Those who commit suicide or have suicidal
behaviors may suffer from Bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder,
depression, drug and or alcohol dependence, Schizophrenia, or may have just encountered
stressful life situations. As a human
problem, suicide affects us all, not just the victim. I believe it is going to take caring and
empathetic understanding to instill hope and make a difference. However how can we bring about change when
our culture does not allow us to do so?
Our culture often avoids the topic of death, labeling it as a universal
unwelcome event. By allowing media
coverage and reporting suicides in a responsible manner we are attempting to
reduce the likelihood of imitation suicide and raising awareness. I believe suicides should be addressed with
dignity and respect, not completely avoided.
First, allowing media coverage would eliminate stigma and will allow
victims to look for help. The victims will no longer associate it outside the
social norm, where they will be shunned or excommunicated. Second, if suicide was no longer stigmatized
as a crime but as a human tragedy or disease, it would allow others to become
connected and empathize with victims thereby, providing human solutions to get
to the real issues leading to death.
Many people will be affected if restrictions on media coverage continue. While our culture completely neglects the
cries of help form those suffering suicidal thoughts, survivors of attempted
suicides, victims of suicide, and those who have lost someone dear to them by a
completed suicide, we are missing out on opportunities to educate and inform
the public. By not addressing suicides
in the media, society fails to view it as a public health problem. Suicides are
not printed in newspapers, addressed in magazines, reviewed in the news, nor
talked about amongst our people. But, I
ask you why? Why, must suicide be looked down on and viewed as, as a
crime? By labeling it as a crime we are
isolating and criminalizing people with mental health disorders. Suicide is not
chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain. Suicide is neither wrong nor right. An alternative to limiting suicide coverage would
be to universally enforce responsible media coverage. Money needs to be funded in order to facilitate
and create educational programs to increase awareness and educate public on the
increase epidemic of suicides and ways to prevent them. I thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely
a concerned citizen,
Rachel
S. Smith
