LOVE is a feeling that everyone experience. Love is an intense feeling of deep affection. There are many forms of love. There is love between a parent and a child, between siblings, between friends, between a teacher and a student, and love between a man and a woman.
There is also self-love and the most important love, between a person and our God. We also love our pets, our homes, our books, our cars.
A number of people highlight love with romantic love, the love between a man and a woman or between partners, lovers, spouses. Many achieve happiness because of his or her partner. But there are times when love is not enough, when betrayal happens and one partner is left alone or abused - emotionally, physically and yes, even sexually. Love hurts…. in the beginning.
There are people who feel so much pain when this happens. They may experience depression, a serious mood disorder where there are feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and unworthiness. There are many reasons why a person may be feel this way – it could be because of a broken heart, but there are other causes.
People who feel so much pain want to end it by committing suicide. Suicide does not end the pain, it just passes it on to someone else.
According to the International Association for Suicide Prevention, suicide is complex with psychological, social, biological, cultural and environmental factors involved.
It further added that every year, over 800,000 people die from suicide worldwide; this roughly corresponds to one death every 40 seconds. It is estimated that during 2012 for each adult who died of suicide there were over 20 others who made suicide attempts.
Suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility. This is something that we should take seriously. We should not laugh at the person who tried to commit suicide or died because of suicide. We should show kindness and support. We should reach out to those in need. Love helps.
It’s okay to ask for help. Depression is a medical condition. There are professionals and concerned people who care. There are people who care for you and love you. Psychiatrists will prescribe a medicine if needed. Psychologists will listen to you. A parent or sibling or a friend will always be there for you. No one is alone. There are people who will not judge you and understands you. There is hope.
The Department of Health and Natasha Goulbourn Foundation have partnered for Hopeline. People who suffer an emotional crisis and suicide prevention can call 0917-558-4673 or (02) 804-4673. For Globe and TM subscribers, they can dial 2919.