by Jonathan Clayton

Created on: July 03, 2008   Last Updated: November 15, 2010

Suicide, is it Ever Justifiable?

The subject of suicide is very difficult for most people to even imagine. In my own opinion, unless you as a person have ever been in the unenviable position of believing that suicide is your only option, it would be extremely difficult to judge someone who is!

Let me try to clarify this statement, if I may. To the person who is considering suicide as they're only option, who are they supposed to be trying to justify this action to? You, me, they're family or friends? I hardly think that what is foremost in they're minds as they contemplate this most final of all actions, is they're right to do so!

For myself and the majority of people who read this article, we consider suicide an irrational act, and that is exactly the point I'm trying to make here! From our point of view, suicide is not a rational response to any situation. But for the person who considers it as they're only solution, to whatever may be so horrible that they see no alternative, it is absolutely rational!

Is this line of discussion making any kind of sense to you, or is it so far out there that it makes no sense at all? The answer to that question should tell you a lot about yourself, as a member of what we consider, a very educated, enlightened, civilized society.

For myself personally, I feel that the only time that suicide is justified, is with the terminally ill! Now, with that being said, this line of thought is coming from someone who considers themselves relatively of sane mind, body and soul.

But, this same train of thought from someone who is suffering from Alcoholism, Drug addiction, extreme physical, mental or verbal abuse. Extreme peer pressure or societal rejection, or many other psychiatric disorders would have a total different outlook on life and the rest of normal society as a whole, for that matter.

The subject of justifiable suicide is extremely complex, personal and frightening for most of us,but having known several people who were suicidal and had attempted suicide, it somehow gave me a different insight into these people that a lot of us never get a chance to see!

It somehow made me see things a little differently than the average joe. It made me wonder even more about the complexity of the human mind and how easily it can become disoriented or confused, or somehow abstract from what most of us consider normal.

In conclusion of this article, I believe that some suicides are in fact justified! While this view may not be a very popular belief, I believe it is more realistic and truthful than a lot of the phycho-babble I've seen and read in medical journals, and scientific research studies I've watched on the Internet!

If you've ever had to sit and watch someone who is extremely close to you die from a terminal illness, I truly think you would agree that some suicides are without a doubt, justifiable.

The bottom line here is this, unless we are the person who considers suicide to be their only option, it is extremely difficult for us to make a judgement call as to what is or is not justifiable. Therefore this entire train of thought is a total catch-22 that should invoke a great deal of in-depth debate, scientific study, and deep soul searching, if nothing else.

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