Could hard times push you to commit suicide?

With the rising rate of suicides and suicide attempts apparently due to economic hardship, the question is, can someone take his or her life or attempt to do so in whatever situation? Daily Trust spoke with some Nigerians on the matter and here are their thoughts. Hard times cannot push me to commit suicide as […]

With the rising rate of suicides and suicide attempts apparently due to economic hardship, the question is, can someone take his or her life or attempt to do so in whatever situation? Daily Trust spoke with some Nigerians on the matter and here are their thoughts.

Hard times cannot push me to commit suicide as I know for a fact that I cannot be the only one going through difficulties. So, if others can survive and pull through, then I have no reason to commit suicide. Besides, I see suicide as a sign of weakness in the sense that whoever decides to take his or her life has just chosen an ‘easy’ way out of whatever challenge he or she might be facing. Someone said ‘suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.’

 

Adide Samuel Emelis, 29, Electrical/Computer Engineer, Jos

More often than not, suicides are preconceived and planned. So, beyond the hard times – one may be facing, a suicide ‘friendly’ environment both external and internal is required to successfully commit one. So, I ensure that such environment is never created by paying attention to my spiritual and emotional support system. Sequel to the aforementioned, hard times cannot push me to commit suicide. Hard times never last, hard people do.

 

Dr Orji Kalu, 30, Medical Doctor, Port Harcourt

Nothing should normally make anyone to take his or her life. I cannot commit suicide because of hard times. As a Muslim, I know it is forbidden to commit suicide. Any challenge I have would be channeled to Allah for solution.

 

Alhaji Sani Abdullahi, 38, Businessman, Nasarawa

The answer is No! The reason people opt for suicide is because they have not discovered who they really are and what they can do to better themselves. The truth is that hard times are inevitable, they surely will come but it is our responses that determine whether or not they will knock us down to the point suicide comes to mind.

We all need to find a purpose for living instead of just existing. Whatever situation you find yourself in, there is someone out there to help you get back on your feet. Strive to be a better person too. As long as there is still breath in your nostrils, you can go one more day.

As the popular saying goes, ‘hard times never last, but hard people do.’ I can never contemplate suicide. It is only a cowardly, selfish and wicked person that can do that. It does not bring an end to the hardship, it only opens the door to another phase of suffering for you and your loved ones left behind, because they will continually be in pain with guilt that they failed you and are left to deal with the burden that led to your action.

As a Christian, I believe in heaven and hell, I know that anybody who commits suicide has lost his or her right to paradise as the power to take life was not given to us. So, why then should I commit suicide to run away from hardship that will surely pass if I stay alive?

 

Christiana Obi, 30, Operations Manager, Kaduna

Hard times, no matter how complex, will not make me commit suicide. Life is full of challenges and the ability to face them makes us better people. All the problems we face in life will either have solutions or may not have at all. It might be rough that we tend to forget some simple philosophies but facilitating my death by any means can never be an option to ease hard times.

 

Ezekial Danjuma Dauda, 33, Civil Servant, Katsina

Suicide is unjustifiable as it is a crime attributed to a bewildered state of mind.

I anticipate less of a benevolent attitude in relating with people and carrying a mindset founded on the belief that nothing good comes easy. This ultimately prepares me to accept every challenge life throws my way, thus I cannot be pushed to commit suicide because of hard times.

 

Tunde Adeyi, 31, Environmental Analyst, Abuja