by Trish Austin

Created on: February 11, 2009   Last Updated: March 29, 2009

Suicide is not a personal right. First, it is a desperate cry for help. A person who is suicidal is a deeply depressed. They feel such pain that living every day is a battle. People who are deeply depressed feel utterly hopeless. They may think they know the reason why they are so miserable, but often times, they have no idea why they feel so horrible. Deep depression is often described as a feeling of such sadness it's unbearable. So, unbearable that once the person begins to "plan" their suicide, they feel happy. The joyful feeling comes from knowing that pain they live with everyday will be over soon.

Also, depression is a complicated disease. Often times depressed people have additional diseases that intensify depression. For instance, they may be an alcoholic. They might suffer from an anxiety disorder. Usually a person who reaches this state of depression has at least one other mental illness. Of course, having another disorder just intensifies the depression.

Then, we still have the mental illness stigma. That we all help promote. Then, the insurance companies don't have to give much coverage for mental illness. A lot of insurance companies believe the brain is not like the heart or lungs. But, in fact, the brain is one of the most important organs in the body. The brain controls everything in the body. So, every one needs to stop judging mental illness as a person's choice. Does a person choose to have diabetes? Mental illness needs to be thought of in the same way.

Since a suicidal person is in such pain. They don't think of others. People who aren't suicidal do think of other people. Severely depressed individuals are focused on themselves. But, some tend to believe that the world would be better off with out them. Others can't tolerate the pain day in and day out.

I believe, it is our responsibility to raise awareness and end the ridiculous stigma of mental illness. More importantly, it is our duty, if we know some one who is threatening suicide to help find them treatment. So, no suicide is not a personal right. Instead, it is our duty to help these people. If some one threatens suicide, they should be taken to an emergency room immediately.

Furthermore, by law, if a person is a danger to himself or a danger to others ,the person should be reported to the police, so they can receive the proper care.

Lastly, in the Bible, suicide is a sin. So, God gives no one the right to take their own life.

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