42 died tragically in first half of this year

Joe Xuereb

Jul 20th 2009, 18:49

cont./ If the feeling is that the investment somehow did not come up to scratch, that it failed, that it was never really viable in any case, then the person has a crisis of identity. They invested too much outside of themselves, unwisely, singularly and failed to realise, or be taught, that investment has to be in the inner workings of the self. One does not build an identity on something or someone outside of oneself. That is asking for trouble. Investment outside the self can never be assured. Classically, the young (or not so young) woman, or man for that matter, who are often heard to say, 'if I met somebody who loved me forever, I would be happy'. Big, big mistake. So, fear of failure (exams, etc.) is traumatic enough. Pressure of any sort is lethal to the healthiest individual. But what is important to understand are the undermining elements that have been going on for ages, cracking up the person inside. Help is out there. Proper diagnosis is crucial. Also, the patient's co-operation. Initially, medication helps. But long-term, cognitive therapy, understanding of the self, is necessary. Outside props are useless.

Joe Xuereb

Jul 20th 2009, 18:33

Serious depression, if untreated, can lead to suicide. It is inaccurate, and misleading, to blame one instance for a person's death. Classically, people are insecure so they invest in whatever it is that makes them feel fine. This could be a high investment in a healthy bank balance, a career, a relationship, a dream of some sort that keeps them going. However, all these things provide a temporary and indeed, a very fragile security. Take away the anchor that is the investment and the person concerned fragments and disintegrates. This can best be described as a building, beautifully presented but with hairline cracks that gape ever wider at every unpleasant event that befalls the individual. So, apart from falling share values, failed relationships, failed exam, failed anything previously felt assured and guaranteed, even the loss through death of a fairly distant relative or friend can act as a catalyst for one to question what one is about in life. cont./

L Aquilina

Jul 17th 2009, 22:00

Does Malta have a Good Samaritans help line manned 24/7? If the answer is yes, than awareness is poor. My gut feeling is that the majority of suicides are in the younger age bracket. If this is correct, than we need to focus on bringing back lost values, self worth and respect for others as a basis for a successful life. The comment below about uni students is worrying. Continuous examinations to achieve is punishing; perhaps;the system is punishing; does meritocracy necessitate regurgitation of memorized material? Are psychologists / psychiatrists raising the alarm with the right authority??

Paul Attard Baldacchino

Jul 17th 2009, 19:02

With regards to suicide. I have been aware of these statistics for a long time now and I am saddened each time I here. Most suicides are commited successfully by men, while women tend to not be successful in their suicides, and survive the attempt. There is a lot of help for people out there but the question is, is this help publicised enough for those who need it to eventually make it accesible in the right time and at the right place? Unfortunately mental health awareness is very young to our society and the stigma related to mental illness has been insignificantly reduced. The truth is that 1 in 3 women suffer from mental illness once in their life time, and that everybody is effected by mental illness at some point in their lives - directly or indirectly. Few people are aware of these stats... and yet the stigma over seeking mental health treatment continues. Most people mistake mental illness for psychosis, and yet the two are very different. People who suffer from some form of mental illness such as depression, which is the major cause of suicide, fear to seek treatment due to the stigma.

Chrissey Zammit

Jul 15th 2009, 20:44

How Tragic, suicide is so awful for the family left behind. They will never get the answers they want.
In the UK as well as Malta the majority of suicide victims are male. PLEASE PLEASE to all you men out there NO problem is worth taking your lives for. Perhaps Malta should have more councellors to help people who are troubled. Someone somewhere will have an answer to your problems.

J.Borg

Jul 15th 2009, 17:50

@marisa micallef
One needs to clearly distinguish if it is the examination system that is suicidal or the pressure put by parents on their children from as when they are a young age. I am aware of cases of fairly good children in primary school who are being sent to private lessons in summer....to get even better!!! Can't children be left to enjoy summer? Aren't such children being brainwashed that you must not only do well...but you MUST do very well? I think parents need to be clearly made aware of the negative impact they have on their children. Exams may be tough...but children brought up with the mentality that failing is not the end of the word will not do suicides. What about those poor soles who feel terribly bad not because the failed...but because they did not get an A or A+ but a B????? Do not underestimate this category ....

r sammut

Jul 15th 2009, 17:47

@Marisa Micallef
Very negative thinking is being expressed in this comment section! These thoughts are not conductive to a healthy mentality!

Yes been there, and those reaching higher posts without themselves having had hands on experience on what they preach, are the ones with the highest expectation!

How about an on line grading system :)

marisa micallef

Jul 15th 2009, 14:55

yes to nyal xuereb, our exam system is a death sentence not a life sentence

nyal xuereb

Jul 15th 2009, 14:06

19 suicides in the first half?... that's around 1 every ten days and it's very tragic indeed. Can the government say what age groups and what was the suspected drive to end their own life cause what I am hearing around is money, work and studies.

Damien Bonello

Jul 15th 2009, 12:17

Do you know the name of the missing person from the seventies ? Is he maltese

J Spiteri

Jul 15th 2009, 12:13

I hope the people missing are under the Interpol's Missing People list !

19 suicides ... too bad age groups were not mentioned, I personally know of some cases regarding uni students. Very tragic !