MISSION ABORT THANATOS

A new year resolution: 'MISSION ABORT THANATOS'

- Need for a 'last resort helpline' to prevent suicide.

            Life is not always a bed of roses and sometimes you feel there is a lot at stake, as people around consider you to be a strong brave person. Real troubles are difficult to cope with and you are too stubborn to get help; thus deciding to quit, still managing to maintain your ego and pride. The egoistic type of suicide occurs when the individual is not sufficiently integrated into his society. Zilboorg explains the paradoxical effect of living by killing oneself, method of gaining fame and immortality, maintaining an ego than destroying it. The person doesn't want to compromise his or her reputation and status of many years of fame and achievements.

            Some case studies that involve suicide notes reveal that the motive is more than just what meets the eye. Mark Twain's character Tom Sawyer who thought of suicide in Missisipi, is an example of an individual's wish to punish a depriving figure by the induction of guilt. The picture of him dead brought tears and self-pity to his eyes. The entertainment of such a maneuver involves a denial of death as a finite and terminal act. It is as though they could remain behind to see and relish the discomfiture and remorse their act would induce.

            Then again, suicide is sometimes used as an aid in coping with an overpowering thanatophobia. It serves as a reaction formation to the morbidly feared eventuality of death, by embracing it rather than running from it. There is the famous psychological case of a young boy who committed suicide to find out if death was as bad as it was told. He assumed the concept of the game 'cops and robbers' literally – that death was reversible and temporary.

             

          Many teenagers die of failure of what I would term as ‘attempt to threaten to suicide’. Their main intention is to deliver a message or a threat demanding attention and love, but eventually succumb to the tortures they force on their bodies. Suicidal behaviour whether attempted or threatened must be taken seriously and dealt with maturely. It should not be treated as taboo anymore. There is a need for  discussing the concept of suicide to school and college students, so that they are no longer disillusioned about death.

            One often goes on the offensive considering them either mentally retarded or weak depressed beings. Depression is a common phenomenon and everybody at some point goes through that moment when you feel like just letting go. It would be immature to condemn people who have attempted, threatened or succumbed to the temptation; rather we should be grateful that we have survived that moment at the threshold, when we had to choose between to be or not to be. It is erroneous to say 'if I were him I would have not done that'. The fact is that we never know how we would react to a situation until we are in it and we cannot hypothetically assume how messed up the situation is for others.

            One cannot prevent an attempt to commmit suicide but at least one can respond to a threat. A person who threatens suicide is emotionally more disturbed than the one who attempts. The reason why the topic should be discussed in the open is because we fail to recognize the signs of victims. For instance, a change in attitude of a depressed person to sudden peace and happiness is a reason to worry. O'connor states that suicide of a depressed person is a kind of narcissistic return to early power, where a receives omnipotence. Thus, an abnormal pattern in emotional polarity might be a sign of a potential suicide attempt. Professional psychiatric, psychological and social work specialists could prove the difference between life and death.

            It’s a matter of seconds when an individual chooses to either turn a page or close the book. Its that period where the death instinct (thanatos) is pushed into overdrive and the life instinct (eros) resigns to the back seat. If those few minutes are spend in uttermost solitude there are more chances that the person will go forward with the plan. However if that period is interspersed by a phone call or a friendly embrace, things might change drastically. The cause and effect relationship is virtually impossible to sort out. Are lonely people more prone to suicide? Or do potential suicides become lonely?

           

            Goa unit of the National Student union of India had begun an online campaign for a compulsory counseling cell in every college. However more than a counseling centre, we need a helpline, where the closet person can just run into a corner and make a last resort call. Basically, when all is done and dusted and when you feel life is not worth living, there is a place to go to. This helpline would keep issues confidential which will make it more believable and approachable. This 'last resort call' would aim to calm down the person and counsel them to re-think their decision.

            Is the 'suicidee' a victim or offender? If you survive the horror, you will be charged with attempt to commit suicide under section 309 of the IPC. One may be a victim in reality; but by giving in to death, one turns into an offender. Besides the crocodile tears and flowery obituaries which are often too late, let us do something to prevent the tragedy. For all the years of stupid resolutions where we bit off more than we could chew, this time lets keep it simple – 'mission abort thanatos, mission rescue eros'.

            Every time you think about suffocating yourself there are people out there who would love to wrap their arms around you and embrace you. Anytime you think of opening a bottle of death and swallowing bitter pellets, remember there is a friend out there who wouldn't mind sitting with you by the riverside, enjoying a beer. Next time, someone you love has dumped you in a deep shit-hole; keep faith, not only will dozens gather to pick you up,  someone will jump in the dump and be with you. Be it an examination failure, a horrid performance or a tortured family situation; we need an attitude to hang on, an attitude to fight back, an attitude to be winners. Remember kites rise higher against the wind. Don't give up, because if you do, you will never know!

Efforts for introducing a helpline have begun and I promise it will spring into action soon. Untill then, stay safe!