The Daily Mail recently reported that two young men, both part of the same football club in East Melbourne, took their lives during the same week. The similarity in their circumstances and the connection through the club has some people asking, “Is suicide contagious?” Find out if one friend’s suicidal thoughts and tendencies might have an effect on another person’s state of mind.
The Reality of Suicide
Suicide is decision based on a lack of hope. People commit suicide because they see no other way out from the pressures of life or their own sadness and despair. Some people kill themselves because they are wracked with guilt, or because they feel they can no longer handle the physical, emotional, and mental pressures of life. Suicide doesn’t involve germs or anything physically contagious; however, some psychiatrists believe that at-risk people can be influenced by each other’s actions.
Teammates in Tragedy
Seventeen-year-old Niall Hargreaves of the east Melbourne Ferntree Gully Football Club killed himself just days after Jake Fitzsimmers, a 23-year-old player, took his own life. Their friendship and their connection to the club is a reminder to others that suicides can affect small, close-knit groups in unexpected ways. More than one person in the group may be struggling with depression, self-harm, hopelessness, and anxiety; and when another individual in a similar situation commits suicide, others may view it as a validation— a legitimate way out.
A Dangerous Thought Process
Let’s imagine a scenario. Lee has struggled with depression for years and is at risk for suicidal tendencies. Within his circle of friends, there is another man, Jon, who has also struggled with depression and anxiety. The two of them have talked and supported each other through hard times over the years. One day, Lee learns that Jon committed suicide. He may begin to suffer from more severe depression himself because of his grief, and he may wonder if Jon way right. Maybe suicide was the only way to truly find peace. Eventually, Lee kills himself too.
The Problem with a Macho Attitude
In the realm of sports, it’s easy for men to develop an easy-going, carefree attitude and a surface camaraderie. It’s much more difficult to dig beneath the surface and become a true friend. Instead of being overly macho and strong before their buddies, men need to find friends to whom they can open up and speak about their feelings and struggles.
Find Help Before It’s Too Late
If you recognise such thinking or a similar situation in your life, don’t wait until those harmful thoughts turn into actions. It’s time to act now on your own behalf or for a mentally distressed friend. Visit Adelphi Psych Medicine Clinic, where some of the top psychiatrists in Singapore are available to help you and your loved ones with mental health issues. Whether you’re struggling with addiction, anxiety, panic, depression, obsessive-compulsive behaviour, or other problems, the caring medical staff and counsellors at Adelphi Psych Medicine Clinic are prepared to help. With treatment and medication at our confidential, secure facility, you can find the peace, hope, and courage you need to face the future.
News Feed from Adelphi Psych Medicine Clinic
Source: Daily Mail, 17 November, 2016