This article discusses the impact of celebrity suicide on the public, the root causes of suicide, and how society and individuals can respond to prevent suicide. It emphasizes that suicide is not just an individual issue, but an important challenge for society as a whole, and suggests that mental health awareness and support systems need to be built.
Recently, there has been a spate of celebrity suicides. In South Korea, many famous celebrities and politicians have taken their own lives. These high-profile suicides set an example for the public to emulate the act of suicide, triggering a phenomenon known as the Werther effect. In fact, many people have taken their own lives by inhaling briquette gas in a confined space, mimicking the method of the late Ahn Jae-hwan.
But why do people take their own lives? Is it because they can’t get over the loss of their favorite stars? Or is it because they see a string of celebrity suicides and want to follow in their footsteps? Of course, celebrity suicides do influence public suicides, but even if they have a vast impact on society, there are probably deeper reasons why an individual takes their own life.
The discussion of suicide involves complex social and psychological factors that are difficult to dismiss as simply an individual issue. On the one hand, there are those who emphasize that suicide is linked to structural problems in society, while on the other hand, there are those who believe that suicide is an internal decision. The act of suicide is not a simple impulse, but often the result of long-standing stress, anxiety, and despair. This raises the question of how society should view and address this issue.
In our last Thinking and Expressing Time discussion on the causes of suicide, our group suggested that the causes of suicide can be divided into two main categories: social and personal. However, I disagree. I believe that suicide is a very personal act. No matter how bullied you are, no matter how badly you are educated, no matter how bad your business fails, no matter how much debt you have, it is your own problem that you choose to take your own life.
And if you look at the things that push an individual to suicide, such as educational problems or business problems, it is the individual’s moment-to-moment choices that have pushed them to the point where they can’t handle it without suicide. Even in the worst educational structure, there is a number one. There are companies that thrive in the midst of financial distress. Of course, there are times when things don’t go your way, and even the best of intentions can fall short. However, things don’t always have to be bad, and if you have the fundamentals to overcome them, you won’t have to resort to such an extreme option as suicide. In other words, the problem of suicide is self-inflicted and can be seen as a manifestation of weakness within an individual.
So, is there any way to prevent suicide?
Suicide prevention requires a multi-pronged approach. First, society needs to raise awareness about mental health and provide the necessary resources and support. Psychiatric treatment or counseling services should not be stigmatized, but rather seen as common help that anyone can get. A more proactive support system needs to be established for those who are left to suffer because they don’t receive adequate care when mental problems arise.
Suicide prevention also requires working to build inner strength on a personal level. It’s important to learn to advocate for yourself in difficult situations and to get help from those around you. We must each learn to understand our feelings and express them in healthy ways. This isn’t just about preventing suicide, it’s about living a happier and more fulfilling life.
We also need to change the perception of our society. When the average person is pushed to extremes, the stress of the situation can make anyone mentally unstable. If you don”t have a trusted person around you, you”ll be alone with your worries, which can lead to suicide. In foreign countries, people often visit a place called a “psychiatric hospital” when they experience depression or other unusual mental situations. But in Korea, if you say, ‘I’m going to a psychiatrist,’ you’re usually treated like a crazy person. But we need to change that. In today’s modern society, where selfishness, materialism, excessive competition, and human alienation are prevalent, mental anxiety is more frequent than in the past, and it’s harder to find someone to turn to whenever it happens. Therefore, even if we don’t change the mindset of “psychiatric wards” overnight, we should establish “mentoring services” or “counseling centers” for exhausted modern people as soon as possible.
But most importantly, if the people around us are able to pour out their love and affection when they need it the most, when they need love the most, when they are beginning to form their character, and even more so, if they can always count on just one person to be there for them at all times, wouldn’t that be enough to prevent suicide? Even just one person.
Finally, the ultimate solution to suicide prevention depends on changes in our society as a whole. We need a culture that doesn’t just stop suicide, but improves the overall social environment and encourages people to value their lives. This requires a combination of education, policy, and social support. It’s important to remember that suicide is not just an individual issue, it’s something we all need to work on together.
