I am sure the world remembers Marilyn Monroe as a dazzling actress, but it is utterly sad that she experienced loneliness and felt unhappy as the illusion of life left her puzzled to the extent that she became a victim of her own actions, when in 1962 she was found lifeless and the entertaining bubble of life had burst.
Many claim it is a conspiracy, but the social readings could read the depressive maniac tendency loud and clear, which often leads many to commit suicide. The madness of game wealth and glamourised attention is a misleading belief system which one needs to decode and balance.
Kurt Cobain, the legendary frontman of Nirvana, ended his life at just 27. His suicide underlines that fame is appealing from afar yet exhaustive and melancholic, leading to a deep sense of emptiness within those who experience it from close quarters. The death reminded us of the infamous, tragic members of the so-called “27 Club” — a list of iconic musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, etc., many who preferred to die young through overdose or suicide.
We can also not forget the humorous Robin Williams, the most globally loved comedian who made many laugh, but was a victim of the storm of depression, followed by neurological illness. The world, on his death, mourned not for him alone but the fallacious human belief system which highlights the saddening paradox, that the masked hypocrisy and civic temperament often lead us to eternal depression. The one who makes the world smile often cries silently.
India has experienced many actors and actresses, some budding talents, and even some farmers committing suicide, and the government has become more micro-management oriented to be empathetic and be watchful in those crucial moments, where mental weakness overpowers positivity towards life. Much more remains to be found to significantly stop this private action, which has a strong social impact.
All incidents expose the cruel reality that suicide does not discriminate between the rich and poor. It can be anyone, the exhausted global superstar, a prisoner of war, a soldier returning from operations after experiencing the sheer madness on the battle ground, the responsible father (a farmer or employed) who is unable to handle the materialistic goals and needs of the family, it even is an adolescent who due to exam pressure or emotional rejection choses wrongly.
Global Statistics
Statistics as per the World Health Organization (WHO) records of 2023:
- More than 700,000 people die by suicide every year, one every 40 seconds.
- For each suicide, an average of over 20 attempts are made.
- Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among adolescents 15–29 years globally.
It is noteworthy that the young bloods find life complicating and some prefer to succumb to pressure before they become strong enough to handle and change the world to a better place.
Understanding Suicide
Before we move ahead, let us decode the term suicide which is derived from the Latin sui (self) and caedere (to kill), literally meaning “to kill oneself.”
As per psychologists, it is an intentional act, an act to self-inflict so as to die. The individual is fully aware of its fatal consequences yet mentally enervated to proceed so. However, suicide is not a sudden act—it is often the culmination of prolonged suffering, psychological torment and vicious social pressures. It reflects not a desire to die, but often a desperate yearning for the pain to end.
The causes are many. The famous French sociologist Emile Durkheim recognised and categorised them as:
- Egoistic: caused by isolation and lack of belonging.
- Altruistic: sacrificing self for a cause (ritual/cult suicides).
- Anomic: triggered by social instability like economic crises.
- Fatalistic: caused by excessive oppression.
This concludes that it is a psychological and social phenomenon. No single factor contributes to suicide, it is a sum total of many dynamic factors like family, parenting, sibling relations, mental manoeuvring, traumatic experiences, accidents etc.
Studies show that 90% of suicides have their roots in mental health disorders, particularly depression, bipolar disorder and substance abuse.
It is notable that the actor Heath Ledger, who played the role of the Joker in The Dark Knight, died in 2008 from an overdose of prescription drugs.
Though it was officially declared accidental, close friends noted his struggles with sleeplessness, anxiety and emotional instability which clearly spoke of weak mental health.
Often, people who suffer from chronic illness also prefer suicide over their daily struggle. Sociologists noticed that many suffering with terminal diseases, living in unbearable pain, often choose suicide as an end to escape. Euthanasia is a social observation echoing due to such painful experiences.
Social and Cultural Roots
The family can be and must be the best sanctuary of love, yet broken marriages, domestic conflicts, ego clashes by irresponsible parents, parental pressure, rationalisation of frustration, social competitiveness etc., instead serve as the roots.
The coaching hubs at Kanpur, Kota, Delhi became witness to many such cases, where unrealistic expectations literally forced young minds to do so. Relationship turmoil also triggered many to commit suicide. The famous case of Silvia Plath, the poet who ended her life trapped between depression and a failing marriage.
Poverty and unemployment also triggered suicides. In India, many farmers commit suicide as they stand trapped in debt cycles and crop failures. In Japan, a country with one of the highest suicide rates, the phenomenon of karoshi (death due to overwork) and suicides related to corporate stress underline how economic structuring has become a vicious cycle.
Digital apathy is not far behind, as in the case of Amanda Todd (a Canadian teenager) who committed suicide after being blackmailed and bullied via cyber measures.
Thousands of veterans in the United States committed suicide as they were unable to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present wars in Ukraine, Russia, and the eternal Middle East crisis further add to this tragedy.
Suicide has also been promoted via cultural traditions. In ancient Japan, seppuku was considered an honorable way for samurai to die after failure. In India, the practice of sati—widows immolating themselves on their husbands’ pyre—was considered a cultural glory.
Even religious manipulations have driven suicide. Many sects and cults exploited it. The Jonestown Massacre (1978) was the largest mass suicide in modern history, where over 900 followers of Jim Jones drank poison under manipulative indoctrination. Similarly, fundamentalists brainwashed many into becoming suicide bombers with promises of eternal glory.
Prevention and Awareness
Yet suicide is preventable. Countries that have invested in prevention have seen results. For example, Sri Lanka reduced its suicide rate by 70% between 1995–2015 after banning toxic pesticides commonly used for poisoning.
The process of suicide is long and can be identified by warning signs: withdrawal from society, mood swings, giving away possessions, or expressing hopelessness. Here the family, friends, society, and government can intervene.
- Hotlines: 988 (US) or India’s KIRAN Helpline 1800-599-0019 provide immediate help.
- Therapies: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) have been effective.
- Campaigns: Australia’s R U OK? movement encourages conversations to prevent isolation.
- Media: Responsible reporting avoids sensationalising celebrity suicides and reduces the Werther Effect.
Mental Health as the Core
The WHO estimates one in six people worldwide live with a mental disorder, yet many lack awareness or treatment. In India, the stigma is so severe that millions suffer silently. With fewer than 0.3 psychiatrists per 100,000 people (compared to 10+ in high-income nations), mental health care remains inaccessible.
Workplace stress in tech industries, call centres, hospitals, and police also highlights the need for robust mental health policies. Workshops, open conversations, counseling programs, and mindfulness training are the need of the hour.
Finding Purpose and Hope
Defining a purpose for life is one way to sustain turbulence. Psychologist Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, wrote in Man’s Search for Meaning that people can endure unimaginable suffering if they perceive a higher purpose. Purpose ties individuals to hope—without it, life feels like a hollow shell.
Parenting and education play crucial roles. Children raised in supportive, communicative families are less likely to succumb to suicidal thoughts. Parents must avoid judgment, toxic comparisons, and prejudice while encouraging positivity.
Education, too, needs an overhaul. Finland’s education system, ranked among the best, emphasizes well-being over competition—contributing to low youth suicide rates. Teachers must also be trained to identify at-risk students.
Medical experts recommend restricting access to lethal pesticides, firearms, and medications. Cinema, too, must subtly educate positivity, as films influence society’s outlook.
Closing Thoughts
Noted psychologist Sigmund Freud saw suicide as “an aggressive expression of the death instinct misdirected towards self.” Durkheim emphasized social integration as a shield, while modern psychologists stress resilience, gratitude, and mindfulness.
Suicide ends a story prematurely, whereas life, with its sorrows and joys, remains a priceless opportunity to grow, serve, love, and create.
Itinerants who travelled across the globe often say:
“Life is not about avoiding storms but learning to dance in the rain.”
When darkness feels overwhelming, reaching out for help is not weakness, it is courage. Tomorrow there will be a sunrise. Taking the darkness as final is foolish, for the world is vast, full of people looking for support and care.
Yes, the world needs every single drop to develop into the mighty ocean that breathes life forever, for the generation next and next and next…
