Suicide is always a dirty word in the hospital.
Everyone expects healthcare workers to provide medical care, sympathy and TLC to patients who attempt suicide and we all try our best but unfortunately the regular doses are usually coloured with a teensy pinch of resentment. I might not like it in my nurses - and even myself occasionally - but that tiny pinch is always there. we are all human and we all have flaws. The medical fraternity makes the occasional joke about life and death ( we need the dark humour to survive unfortunately ) - but deep inside, all of us carry an innate respect for life. Everyday we see patients, young and old, battling so very hard and desperately for their lives and the very idea that someone would just throw away this precious gift disgusts us.
There. I've said it. A bad person and certainly far from politically correct, I'm sure but I'm battling post-call fatigue so I hope to be forgiven :)
But it doesn't actually hit you till someone you know - or someone you know who knows someone else... takes a flying leap off the nearest building and forgets the bungee cord. Or takes a lethal injection of potassium chloride. Back in medical school, we have all heard the urban legend about the medical intern who took a torch to himself but it certainly isn't a laughing matter especially when doctors actually consitute a significant number in the figures. Yes, doctors do take their own lives and unsurprisingly anaesthetists and psychiatrists head the infamous list. A prevalent view is that both biologic and psychosocial factors play a role - and interact - in the decision to commit suicide. Since theoretically suicides amongst physicians would lead to almost certain death, I doubt we'll ever find the reasons why - short of a successful seance.
Makes you stop and think. What actually drives someone to give up on life?
16 comments:
What actually drives someone to give up on life? Well, life itself does that to people.
Odd yet true and ultimately, does not answer your question.
In my opinion, the people who commit suicide without having justifyable reasons (terminally illness with no cure, etc.) are the self-absorbing type who can't see things beyond themselves..
Especially if you are already a doctor and still commit suicide... I would probably say good thing they don't break down in the operating theater. As Paul would know it take a lot of time and resources for one person to became a doctor. They should at least spend a good sum of their life paying off the debt to the people and especially their parents for such investment.
from a psychological perspective, there's a clinical answer. On the MMPI-2 (or current version), there are two scales that indicate a high suicide risk: for the participant to "score" high on both the depression scale and the energy scale. This is a person who not only wants to kill themself (for whatever reason), but also has the energy to do so.
And most people who are generally depressed do not have the energy to do it.
I think anger and depression mixed would be the fatal combination.
I really don't understand why people commit suicide actually. Even there's a clinical answer to it, I just can't accept it.
It's a very wrong. And didn't solve any problem we were having. Geez. It's not even logical. The problem would still be there even if you leave this world.
In the end, it is not the ghost, but the problem would haunt the rest of the family.
I heard that every single one who jumps off from the building, 2/3 on the way down to the ground, it appears the little thing s/he was concerned about and made her/him fall from the building can be fixed, and s/he regrets. So I guess suicide isn't a good option after all even if it seems the best way to end things. Because every single person would regret it. I mean I don't think I can end my life without watching the last episode on LOST. oh, wait, I am so low. :-)
Makes you stop and think. What actually drives someone to give up on life?
I've always wondered that myself. Not in an omg-how-could-anyone-possibly-do-that-to-themselves way, but more of an i'd-love-to-pick-their-brains-and-find-out-what-makes-them-tick sorta way. Which hopefully, is the mark of a good psychologist. Or a mad scientist. Whichever.
lost, employ someone like Mr Smith AKA brad pitt?
weeshiong, that was deep and I think I need to sit on a mountaintop for a few days to that over :)
pete, I hear ya!
Brian, I did that personality test in med school! Think I came close to being maniacal.
Musang, I totally agree with that too!
shigeki, you're probably right but on the way down, it's a little too late to change.
Paul
I think it's that feeling of absolute HELPLESSNESS, where they feel like they can no longer do anything to bring themselves out of whatever it is that's botherin them. They think it's better to end it once and for all by killing themselves.
I've heard from a friend about a student from a local college who jumps out from the balcony of his hostel. Whether he's plagued by problems concerning his studies or girl/boy relationships, it can't be determined. The only thing is, he's been thinking, talking about suicide and feeling depressed about it a few days earlier. His friends thought of it as a joke. If only his friends were more considerate and take his depression as a sign.
That goes to show that we have a resposibility to remind people that life is worth living even if it's not as easy as we want it to be ?!!!
James! I'd love to pick their brains too but I don't think te mortuary would allow that. So how was the lesbian thing!
Paul
everyone should just get a good dose of narcissism.
like me, i can't even bring myself to force myself to throw up food even when i want to lose weight real bad. let alone jump down buildings, or die with a mutilated body. ugh.
Weeshiong is right, life itself can drive people to it ... whether the demands of work or society, or personal character, or even the people they leave behind.
But life itself can also inspire people to give (or take) their own lives, making it a positive sacrifice to enable others to enjoy life more fully.
I don't think we can assume that all people who kill themselves do so because of despair, helplessness, or simply giving up.
I do wonder whether some people who fight tooth and claw to keep hold of life, simply for the sake of existing a short while longer, are missing the point and abusing the gift of life by clinging on to it when they should be passing it on to others. But maybe that's because I'm a cynical old trout. :o\
Interesting, as how I posted about a low itme in my life years ago when I thought suicide was an easy way out of the pain. I'm not proud of that, but why should I still beat myself up over it either? It wasn't a way out, of course, but depression is a terrible thing and sometimes people choose to do ANYTHING to stop the pain. So many times, we get a little too pious and condescending concerning those with depression and suicidal thoughts. Those of us in health care (and myself included) blame the patient for being ill and then blame them for not getting better. I think we could do better. A lot better.
Nice post. Very interesting. It´s very difficult know what's up in others mind!
That's right, ahmad. We should always remind ourselves and those we know that life is worth living. I once had a classmate in school who also contemplated suicide once upon a time. Not sure if what we all said managed to convince him ( actually we nagged him to pieces ) but he didn't take the leap thankfully.
chloe, join the club! I hate losing weight too.
ru, life is precious and surely most of us wouldn't go gently into the dark.
Anoter guy in health! I'm so glad, Curtis, that you agree that most of us working in healthcare canbe just a tad too pious and condescending when it comes to certain patients. I felt it too - and disliked it in myself. Sigh!
Excellent question - rather enlightening post. I wonder too - what makes people give up on life but still continue to breathe? I have a relative who's always looking for the gray lining behind every silver cloud. She cannot seem to appreciate the absolute joy that life has, even when things don't go your way. It makes me scared that I'm closely related. I hope it never happens to me.
well, i'm in a state of suicide as well. because i have a physical problem which cannot be resolved and it is deteriorating. do u know how it feels everyday like the stomach is pulling down your neck and you feel like your back is burning. tink the muscles are wasting off 'cause movements getting more and more difficult. medicine does not help much. coupled with that, other problems as well. when there is no solution, u will tink suicide is the only way out. Really, just thought if i can give up my body & my soul will be freed !
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