| "We must light the dark corners of taboo | | | | death in the United States, in some cases |
| and stigma. We must silence the loud voices | | | | exceeding deaths by motor vehicle accidents |
| of ignorance"---Adina Wrobleski.In the | | | | annually. Many states spend huge amount of |
| political environment today, it is extreamely | | | | money on safer highways, but very little, if |
| difficult to watch the evening news or read | | | | any, on suicide awareness and |
| the morning paper without being reminded of | | | | prevention.Consider for a moment what would |
| terrorism and suicide bombers. Still, the | | | | be society's reaction if 35, 000 airline |
| social conspiracy of silence on suicide is | | | | passengers were killed in airplane crashes |
| very much alive and thriving. No subject is | | | | each year in the United States. One can |
| more misunderstood, even today, than suicide. | | | | safely assume that there would be a political |
| it remains one of the last taboos. So great | | | | and social uprising demanding that the |
| is the taboo on suicide that some people will | | | | airline industry make safety improvements |
| not say the word, some newspapers will not | | | | immediately. In 2004, six students killed |
| publish accounts of it. And, too often, | | | | themselves by jumping from tall buildings on |
| scientists have avoided it as a subject for | | | | the campus of New York University; according |
| research. For instance, I have checked | | | | to N.Y.U. spokesman two students committed |
| EzineArticles and found just one article on | | | | suicide in the same week. If six students |
| suicide under the listing of grief and loss, | | | | were murdered, in less then one year, on the |
| another indication that the taboo is at work. | | | | campus of one of American's leading |
| As I have already hinted, the final | | | | university the public would demand |
| conclusion is that people will kill | | | | accountability. And state officials would |
| themselves and that playing the ostrich does | | | | mount a full-frontal attack on the problem. |
| not diminish this reality in the least. | | | | The mass media would setup camp outside the |
| "Suicide," writes the notes English | | | | university asking questions and interviewing |
| poet and critic A. Alvarez, "has | | | | everyone within reach of their cameras and |
| permeated Western culture like a dye that | | | | microphones. However, in either case they |
| cannot be washed out." The Savage God: A | | | | were no demands for accountability or social |
| Study of Suicide.Historical BackgroundIn | | | | outrage for political interventions. In fact, |
| Western culture suicide has always been a | | | | if you lived outside the New York City Area |
| taboo and a ecclesiastical ban, many | | | | you may not have read or heard of these |
| religions consider the act of taking ones own | | | | suicide. Yes, suicide is clearly a taboo |
| life such a sin they will not allow an | | | | subject which society tip toe around.Lack of |
| individual who committed suicide to be buried | | | | Ability to Cope: Not Mental IllnessAttempts |
| in "hallowed" ground. For example, | | | | at suicide, and suicidal ideations are |
| in in the early years of Christianity St. | | | | usually a symptom indicating that the |
| Augustine (AD 345-430) pronounced suicide to | | | | individual is not coping very well. This |
| be a mortal sin and a century later Christian | | | | inability to cope is often the result of some |
| Church prohibited the saying of masses for | | | | event or series of events that the person |
| the souls of those who died by suicide, and | | | | find overwhelmingly traumatic or distressing. |
| they were denied burial in hallowed ground. | | | | In many cases, the events in question will |
| The last recorded "unhallowed" | | | | pass, the impact can be mitigated, the |
| burial of a suicide in Britain occurred as | | | | overwhelming nature will gradually fade if |
| late as 1823. Families will go to great | | | | the individual can make constructive |
| lengths to hide a suicide and there is | | | | decisions when the crisis is at its peak. In |
| tremendous shame associated with the act of | | | | the vast majority of cases a suicide |
| suicide.Suicide has occurred consistently | | | | attemptor would choose differently if they |
| throughout recorded history in every cultural | | | | were not in great distress and were able to |
| and social setting. However, the attitudes | | | | evaluate their options objectively. Most |
| towards suicide changed greatly in different | | | | suicidal individuals give warning signs in |
| times, cultures and societies. In ancient | | | | the hope that they will be rescued, because, |
| Greece and Rome suicide was mostly seen as an | | | | the primary intent is to stop their emotional |
| honourable or heroic form of death. Again, | | | | pain, and not on dying.The majority of |
| the mass suicide of Jews at Masada in AD 73, | | | | individuals who commit suicide do not have a |
| was perceived to have been an honourable act | | | | diagnosable mental illness. They are people |
| to avoid falling into the hands of the | | | | like you and I who sometime feels isolated, |
| defeating Roman Army. In Japan, the Samurai | | | | desperately unhappy and alone. Suicidal |
| ritual was codefied for different methods of | | | | thoughts and action may be the result of |
| suicide which bring them death before | | | | life's stresses and losses that the |
| dishonour. Even today in Japan there is | | | | individual feels they can't cope with and |
| little stigma associated with suicide, which | | | | just want the pain to stop.In a society where |
| may account for Japan's high rates of | | | | there is much stigma and ignorance regarding |
| suicide.In the Hindu faith there is a general | | | | mental illness, a person who feels suicidal |
| taboo against suicide, especially among men. | | | | may fear that others will think they are |
| The concept of altruistic suicide is | | | | crazy if they express how they feel, and may |
| acceptable, also there is an honourable | | | | be reluctant to reach out for help in a |
| tradition associated with bereaved women | | | | crisis. Individuals who are suffering from a |
| committing suicide. For example, widows, | | | | mental illness such as schizophrenia or |
| often, commit suicide by cremating themselves | | | | clinical depression do have significantly |
| to fulfill their true role as wives. Another | | | | higher suicide rates than average, still they |
| example, surviving members of Taino Indians | | | | are in the minority of attemptors. For these |
| tribe jumped of high cliffs in Puerto Rico to | | | | individuals having their illness correctly |
| escape capture after Christopher Columbus' | | | | diagnosed may indicate that an appropriate |
| men had already killed two-third of the | | | | treatment can begin to address the |
| tribe. Many Africans being transported from | | | | problem.For additional information on suicide |
| Africa were known to take their own lives, | | | | facts and myths: Smith is a psychologist and |
| rather than be enslaved in the so-called New | | | | personal consultant with over three decades |
| World.Criminalized the Act of SuicideUntil | | | | of experience working with clients addressing |
| 1950's in Britain, people were being sent to | | | | varied problems of personal and confidential |
| prison for attempting suicide. The 1961 | | | | nature. To learn more about my experiences |
| Suicide Act repealed the law under which both | | | | and services, visit my website at: And tell |
| actual and attempted suicides were held to be | | | | me how did you hear about my services.To |
| a criminal acts. England and Wales were the | | | | express my appreciation for visiting my site, |
| last countries in Europe to decriminalize | | | | please present a problem of great concerned |
| suicide. The criminalization of suicide is | | | | to you, I will completely assess your problem |
| not so far-fetched the word suicide itself | | | | and make recommendations FREE of CHARGE. |
| has the implication of being a criminal act, | | | | Please state your problem precisely and |
| literally meaning self-murder.The Power of | | | | completely as you can with no concern for the |
| Social TabooSuicide is a significant cause of | | | | length of your e-mail. |