Personally, I've had 3 friends commit suicide in the past year, and lost others to accidents and cancer. It's brutal. One was a particularly close friend, one of my ushers at my wedding, and the Godfather of one of my daughters. That was April 1st, I'll never forget that day when I found out. First shock, then anger, then tears. Our birthdays were two days apart, and we often shared our birthday party. On my birthday, Apr 16, I was in Florida on vacation with my family. I got up early that morning, careful not to wake the family, and went outside on the hotel's patio and just cried for about 1/2 hour.

Back to the topic though, I'm 44, and was in college when the Guyana-Jonestown mass suicide happened. Nearly 1000 people committed suicide because of an insane quasi-religeous freak. I still remember the TV coverage of helicopters overhead showing the mass of dead bodies all over the compound.
Then in 1997 that group in Calif who killed themselves (about 25 people) who thought that by dying they would catch the comet Hale-Bopp and ride it off into the heavens.
Such a waste, their poor families.
Tough subject, but a good one, especially good to talk about if you're ever contemplating it. I've thought about it in the past, and thank God I let others know how I felt. That's why I'm still here and life is very good right now.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
The Next Thing I Say To You Will Be True
The Last Thing I Said Was False

I think that if you end up killing your self you would either have to go through so much trauma that you can't even describe it. Or you were raised (sorry if this sounds like a racist comment) some middle eastern religous fanatics that say you will go to paradise if you blow yourself up. I personally don't know anybody that hates life enough to kill themselves just to end it.

If I seemed callous about my last post, I truly apologize. But those who commit suicide are committing the ULTIMATE act of selfishness. They no longer care anymore about anything. Not even if their death devastates their family. They just give up. And you know what, if you're not willing to seek help because you're so depressed, then feel free and kill yourself, I know your family would appreciate it. But if you honestly and truly care about your family and friends, then get the help you need. Because the ones you love will ALWAYS be the ones who pay, if you choose to die.

When you are in that level of depression, you do not see others around you. You see only the failure of your life. You see yourself alone. You feel like you are letting others down by living, that they would be better off with out you.

On topic, the group deal, never figured why people run in group that tight. To do it together, crasy no matter what.

I had a friend who committed suicide as well. Lamentably it seems quite common these days .

its very sad some people commit suicide to manipulate other people to kind of "get back at them" for a past wrong they suffered

---

but to encourage others, especially kids? how f***in irresponsible is that?

---

Don't get me wrong taw, i completely agree with that comment. Hence why i said that i just cannot understand these suicide pacts. If my post came across as i agree these "pacts" then i'm sorry, it wasn't meant to.

Suicide seems to be the in thing nowadays. Ever listened to a punk band?

-:-
I used to be a guy called Cosmic Viator

Several years ago, i was going through a very severe bout of depression, lasting about, 2 years i think, i was snapping at everyone. I think at onle point i dropped everything and went to bash some guy up because he took my calculator.
Almost every night i would cry, not beleiving that anything was worth the pain and suffering...
Nothing worth living for? i go to a private school, have my own computer, have a family, and am very good friends with two experienced Systems Administrators.
If they dont have anything to live for, i know how they feel, i once felt the same way, and I can fight out of it, being the vengeance-driven person i am, anyone can.

Just my two cents...

As for the group suicides: a great waste, and one must wonder how they were driven to do such a thing?

on of my best friends was a mother the same age as me. she was 19 years old and she was away working allot, so her kids stayed with her parents. she was already despressed because she couldnt see her kids except on sunday. one day she was out of money, and her two sons wanted to go to sonic. when she said no they replied "mommy i wish you were like granny, she always takes us out to eat." i was about to be in a relationship with this woman and she turned away, and i saw in her eyes her heart broke there. i folowed her home and weeped with her tryin to comfort her. i spent the night tryin to comfort her and eventualy i thought she fell asleep so i decided to take a nap. i woke up watching her walk into her driveway and getting in her car. i ran in my boxers to get in my car and folowed her. she stopped at the local train tracks, 6:45 a.m. in 5 minutes the train would come through. i ran after her but she was to far ahead. at 6:50 a.m. the first women i loved lost her life because she had kids that were 3 years old, and didnt understand how stressed she was. for a year i wept, straight through my twentieth birthday, i couldnt understand how such terrible things are allowed by the heavens to happen! i was tempted to beat several people, including my friend who didnt understand what had happened. he came over and said "hey man why are you so glumm?" i punched him straight in the face twice and knocked him on the floor nearly broke his nose. then i sat and cried again. my family got me to go a physhiatrist and i slowly was able to trudge through my grief. Her children now look at me as their uncle, since they believe their grandparents are their momy and dady.

Edited by - nc on 10/15/2004 10:30:37 AM

Finally proven a point. Most people Don't hear someone calling for help. 2 of my posts on page one, are carbon copies of the way I felt back in 1982. It proves the point that most people don't notice. I know first hand what it is like. No, not someone I knew, but me. After the fact, failing the attempt, everyone around me said they should have seen it. I had reached the level of depression so low, there did not seem any way out. I took 60 pills in an attempt to end what I perceived as pain and loneliness. The grace of God only that I did not die. In the Emergency room, 2 hours after taking the pills, my Bp was 220 / 164 The Doctor was amazed I had not had a stroke or a heart attack. How did I end up in the hospital, my platoon sergeant happened by and saw all the empty pill boxes. Afterwards, he and I sat in the barracks and talked for 3 hours. He was a great help when I needed it.

I swore after that, I would never let anyone I called a Friend do that, but would pay attention to them and things they said.



I'll leave the soap box now.

Edited by - Finalday on 10/15/2004 5:23:43 PM

Not an argument, really, but I feel the need to clarify ... Fd.... I took your descriptions to be where you had been historically. I didn't take what you said to mean that you were, in the present, in need of help.

Also, individuals who are depressed and who feel the urge to commit suicide is not actually the point of my thread although, of course, the relevance is more than abundantly evident.

And, as for teen suicides involved in depression, if they have been diagnosed and prescribed with an antidepressant, there is disturbing indication that the drugs may, in some cases, tip them teen over the edge into suicide. Not always but there is a risk of it. The British Medical Board has taken steps and the FDA only now are looking into it.

Edited by - Indy11 on 10/15/2004 5:28:13 PM

Really sad stuff.
I am happy to say that I have never been in a position like many of you have. I have been happy my whole life, and I hope it to stay that way. I am partially immune to depression and sadness, because I am a generally happy person, and I can shrug off the depressing things with ease. Of course, I still have a long way to go, but I hope I never even consider suicide.
Japan is a stressful country. Most people there are smart, and good jobs aren't easy to find. Not to mention, it is a crowded country, and it is hard to get a nice house, or get your name known. Many people are unable to suceed, and are depressed, and it can sometimes lead to events like this.

taw i am sure you read, how do you spell his name, durkhiem. he talked about this