In this blog post, we will examine the causes and responsibilities surrounding suicide from both individual and societal perspectives, and explore solutions for prevention.
Suicide literally means the act of taking one’s own life. The meaning becomes clearer when we factor in the concept of “free will.” In other words, even if an act appears to be suicide on the surface, whether it is truly suicide depends on the presence or absence of free will. For example, consider the case of a palace maid in the Joseon Dynasty who was forced to drink poison after committing a grave crime. Although the palace maid herself is the one drinking the poison, since this is a punishment imposed by coercion rather than free will, it cannot be considered suicide.
The causes of suicide can be broadly divided into social and personal factors. Social factors include alienation from society or overly close social relationships, while personal factors include financial difficulties, psychological stress, and depression. The important point is that social and personal factors are not completely separate.
For example, in the case of a celebrity who chose death after suffering from malicious online comments, it was society that caused them to feel alienated, but ultimately, it was the individual themselves who chose death due to psychological stress. Similarly, this applies to a student contemplating suicide due to college entrance exam stress who was swept up by a social atmosphere known as the “Werther effect” and chose death. While society created the atmosphere that led to the decision to commit suicide, it was the student themselves who chose death due to the pressure of the college entrance exam. In this way, while social factors have various influences on suicide, the individual is ultimately the one who chooses to take their own life. In other words, suicide occurs through the complex interaction of social and personal factors. Therefore, to prevent suicide, efforts must be made in a balanced manner from both social and personal perspectives. This is because suicide cannot be effectively prevented by focusing on only one aspect.
First, to prevent suicide from a social perspective, society as a whole must foster an atmosphere that does not devalue life and widely publicize the gravity and injustice of suicide. For example, when a celebrity commits suicide, the media floods the public with unfiltered reports ranging from the causes of suicide to the means and methods used. Since these articles are written without considering the ripple effects on society, they can have serious consequences, such as leading to copycat suicides. Therefore, the media must exercise caution when writing about suicide. While paying respects to the deceased, they must clearly state that suicide is a wrongful act that fails to value life and cannot serve as a fundamental solution to real-world problems.
Furthermore, society must establish an effective suicide prevention system. To achieve this, practical policies—rather than abstract ones—must be implemented. An example of this is the suicide prevention structure installed on Dongjak Bridge several years ago. As the number of people climbing onto the steel framework on Dongjak Bridge to attempt suicide increased, oil was applied to the structure to prevent people from climbing it, thereby preventing suicides.
Meanwhile, from a personal perspective, preventing suicide requires, above all, a mindset that values the life one has been given. Life is unique and irreplaceable. Therefore, one must recognize that suicide is an unethical act and understand that taking one’s own life can cause immense grief not only to family members but also to those around them.
Furthermore, no matter how difficult the situation, one must maintain a positive attitude and strive to resolve it. The temptation to commit suicide often begins with the feeling that there is no hope left. At such times, positive thinking can transform a pessimistic attitude and guide one toward living an optimistic life. One must firmly remind oneself that suicide can never be a fundamental solution under any circumstances. Finally, when suffering from mental illnesses such as depression or bipolar disorder, one must not be concerned about others’ opinions but must seek help from those around them to resist the temptation of suicide.
