Loneliness and Suicide (1)

social media and how increasing focus towards as well as time spent on social media can increase one’s feelings of loneliness and depression. (Loneliness is Deadly, Olien)

Image from Wix

Most people will feel some form of sadness, face hardships, and have moments of loneliness at some point, however prolonged periods of loneliness, depression and thoughts of suicide differ from the natural pains and heartache that one will feel in their life. Mental health is something that should be handled with care, just as one should seek proper treatment for a physical ailment, the same should go for a mental illness. In discussing the topics of mental illness and suicide, we believe and understand that suicide has become such a prevalent topic that most everyone has been touched by and felt its effects in some way. We would like everyone to know that we have genuine respect and love for all who have been through this experience.

In a recent article by Jessica Olien discussed the the negative effects of loneliness, and mentioned that in two recent surveys,

40% of adults revealed that they were lonely, this rate has grown 20% since 1980.

Loneliness can put people on a dark path that leads to depression, and potentially suicidal thoughts and actions. Olien mentioned social media and how increasing focus towards as well as time spent on social media can increase one’s feelings of loneliness and depression. If people place too much pressure on the way they are portrayed online and invest hours on social media outlets seeing the best aspects of everyone’s life it can make individuals feel more alone in their trials and struggles. However, social media is only one factor of many that can contribute to loneliness. Ken Eisold reveals in his article that 1 in 3 Americans over the age of 45 identifies as chronically lonely. (Psychology Today, Eisold) People are beginning to feel more alone and isolated in our society, which contributes to many negative effects on one’s mental health, as well as how they perceive the world, and themselves. As the percentage of the amount of people who are lonely rises, depression and suicide rates also increase.

In the world today, the amount of people suffering with depression and suicidal thoughts or actions are becoming increasingly prevalent. According to an article by Andrew Solomon,

someone commits suicide roughly every 45 seconds, and it is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. (The New Yorker)

Individuals who end their own life do not just do it on a whim, many of them have battled with such thoughts and feelings for a long time. If one decides to commit suicide they normally feel as though all hope is gone; no longer can they picture the light at the end of the tunnel. The darkness and loneliness that surrounding them, leads some of them to believe it is the only option, and the only way to ever find peace, happiness, and relief. We know how deeply this can affect not only the life of the individual, but those who love and care for that individual as well, more specifically their family and their friends. For all of those who are affected in some way by this, we earnestly desire you to know that there is hope.

Image from Wix

People need to know that there is hope, and there are ways to overcome this. If someone is having suicidal thoughts or suffering from depression, it is so important to talk to somebody, isolation will only increase the pain. Finding someone trustworthy to talk to can make a huge difference, and if an individual is reached out to by a person with depression or is considering suicide, they need to remember to be patient, listen, love, and maybe even seek out a professional to help that person get the assistance they are in need of. With how prevalent suicide is in this time we all need to be on the watch, because we never know who will be struggling. There is no shame in having these feelings, or needing aid. There are so many qualified doctors and therapists with the tools to help. Though it may not be visible at the moment, there is light at the end of that seemingly endless and dark tunnel.