Many people these days express the urge to kill themselves or end their lives, on the internet. Recently, this has become an area of interest to me. Before i continue any further, i think we should differentiate the difference between suicidal ideation and an act of suicide. What they both mean is basically what they both sound. Ideation is a thought process which can be manifested by many reasons and the act is the act of carrying out killing themselves or an attempt on ending own life. Usually ideation persists in the mind for a long time before the act.
What interests me is the medium these people choose to display their suicide notes and the possible Werther Effect it could have. The internet has become a popular place for people to display their emotions through social networking sites and blogs. Since the emergence of MvBlogs , there is a noticeable increase in the number of people who are displaying signs of hopelessness and even contemplating or mentioning about suicide in many occasions. Internet has become THE place to go to heal the wounds or convey a message to the rest of the world.
There is evidence from many sources suggesting that reporting of completed suicide in media encourages young people in considering suicide. How ever, few sources talk on the influence of internet on suicide and how people perceive suicidal thoughts from the internet. From many observations being made by many, it is becoming clear that internet is having the potential to be a powerful destructive force that could turn ambivalence into declarations of suicide from which it might be impossible to retreat.
Internet is a limitless information hub. People are spending more and more time on the internet. Some of the material that could be found about suicide includes, newspaper accounts of completed suicides, information on suicide methods, information on how to complete suicide and academic research on suicide discussions. There are noted incidences where suicidal websites have triggered suicidal behaviour in vulnerable predisposed adolescents. In Japan where there is a high suicidal rate, authorities are facing the disturbing phenomena of strangers meeting on the internet and arranging to commit suicide together. It seems that there are more than 100,000 websites with methods of committing suicide. Usually people who want to dissuade suicide are not allowed in these sites.
There are two main points that i would like to bring to the attention of the readers.
1. Firstly that internet could encourage suicidal behaviour by depicting ways by which suicide may be committed.
2. Secondly on the reality of internet websites being a discouraging factor in seeking psychiatric help and condoning suicide.
Now keeping these points in mind let us look at the MV blogosphere. The most recent entry about having suicidal ideation comes from this blog. There are many more.
Now this is of concern. If someone mentions any of the things i am about to list below, the case has to be considered as SIGNS of NEEDING HELP and the person should be encouraged SEEKING IMMEDIATE HELP.
Some Suicide Warning Signs
If you hear some one say:
Life isn’t worth living.
My family (or friends or girlfriend/boyfriend) would be better off without me
Next time I’ll take enough pills to do the job right
Take my prized collection or valuables - I don’t need this stuff anymoreDon’t worry, I won’t be around to deal with that
You’ll be sorry when I’m gone
I won’t be in your way much longer
I just can’t deal with everything - life’s too hard
I won’t be a burden much longer
Nobody understands me - nobody feels the way I do
There’s nothing I can do to make it betterI’d be better off dead
I feel like there is no way out
You’d be better off without me
Have you noticed them doing one or more of the following activities?
Getting affairs in order (paying off debts, changing a will)
Giving away articles of either personal or monetary value
Signs of planning a suicide such as obtaining a weapon or writing a suicide note
Suicide is one of the most serious symptoms of someone who is suffering from severe depression. Common signs of depression include:
Depressed or sad mood (e.g., feeling “blue” or “down in the dumps”)
A change in the person’s sleeping patterns (e.g., sleeping too much or too little, or having difficulty sleeping the night through)
A significant change in the person’s weight or appetite
Speaking and/or moving with unusual speed or slowness
Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities (e.g., hobbies, outdoor activities, hanging around with friends)
Withdrawal from family and friends
Fatigue or loss of energy
Diminished ability to think or concentrate, slowed thinking or indecisiveness
Feelings of worthlessness, self-reproach, or guilt
Thoughts of death, suicide, or wishes to be dead .
Taken from here.
There are many more signs, but what the above has given is literally a suicidal person.
So , take care of your loved ones and the ones you know.
Remember. Suicide and depression does not discriminate.
