Who is ultimately responsible for changing Suicide?

Ok I have to start by saying I feel for all those that have had to deal with suicides.  I feel the hurt, I hear the blame, I see the loss.  I also see the reactions in the media and am often left wondering who is ultimately responsible for stemming the flow.

This article is touching and sad.  But is it's intent missing the mark?  Bear with me please.  In the past (and even now) suicide  was a sign of weakness.  It was often treated largely by Christian groups as cheating God and the victim would never go to heaven.  That thankfully isn't as much as an issue as it used to be.  But there is a society out there that makes judgements on those victims and in so doing stigmatise the families and friends that have to deal with Suicides.

Now for many years there has been a drive in society to remove or destigmatise mental health issues and that campaign, driven by the government and agencies willing to hold the torch, is working.  But why is suicide not on government agenda?  Simply put, too hard basket.

Let's just look at the make up of suicides.  Some have existing diagnosed mental health issues, many are elderly who don't want to be a burden, some are middle aged adults going through mid life crisis', many are young adults/teens struggling to cope.  The last two don't necessarily have any prediagnosed mental health issues, just normal folks with a whole raft of problems.  So how to stem the flow.  How to catch this early?  How to stop people doing something that will hurt many, not only themselves?

That article calls on the Government to take some action to bring this into the public arena.  It asks for government to educate, and fix.  One thing it doesn't do is ask Society as a whole to stand up, take notice and care.  This applies more specifically for the young especially those with family issues and trouble fitting in at school.  Bullying has often appeared as a cause to lower ones self worth.  The more we advance as a society, the more people we leave behind on the Shit Heap.  Society, i.e. families and friends, in all age groups where suicide is prevalent, need to stand up and notice.  Government doesn't have the means to identify folks going off the rails, except maybe school aged youth, so it's down to society to change that way it thinks and acts.  Just saying someone is a loner doesn't mean we have to treat them as a loner.  We all to often are quite happy to stand by and let life run it's course.  And regrettably death is an accepted course of action.  Currently we see "oh he committed suicide, I wonder why?"  Instead we should be saying "Hey mate, is everything OK, do you need a hand with something?"  Nope, that's in the too hard basket for a society that is geared to success and possessions.  Self worth comes a distant last.  Worth of others even further back.

So folks, in a nutshell.  Start the korero amongst yourself, your whanau and your friends.  Keep being there for others.  Watch, learn and adjust and respect.  Remember one unnecessary death is one too many.  And the consequences are often far reaching.  No government has a major role to play with changing the status quo at the coal face.  Yes they must bow to pressure to help society get through the tough times and to educate, but in the end it's always going to be down to Mum, Dad, sister, brother, uncle, cousin, best mate, peer group.  Nanny state doesn't extend it's Love/Aroha branch in that part of society.