We were saddened to hear about the suicide of a student at Harvard this past weekend but also sort of blown away by the nearly 2000 page suicide note he left.
What are your thoughts?
Is suicide immoral? Are there any circumstances where it can be justified?
Sound off in the comments below.
(Keeping in mind I have only read the article, and glanced over the very first page of the Suicide Note...)
As someone who was touched by suicide at a very early age - my father shot himself when I was 10 years old - I find it hard to say that the act of taking one's own life is anything but selfish. Not a very generous attitude perhaps, towards those suffering with depression (and I know first hand about that too) but when someone takes such a drastic step without talking to the people they love, without asking for help, then it's selfish because they're not thinking about the ones they are leaving behind and the terrible, long lasting effects such a terrible act can have on all of them.
That said, Mr. Heismann appears to have thought it out for a long time (time enough to write 2000 pages at least) and obviously picked a spot guaranteed to attract attention. Too bad he couldn't have used some of that drive and determination to ask for some help.
~Vivian
Vivian, that's really sad, hope you are ok now. I agree with you that what your dad did was selfish. but you have to know that when he did it he was lost and confused, what he did doesn't necessarily mean that he didn't love you and your family. everything happen for a reason, and it shaped you as the person you are today. so learn from it rather than be affected by it. life is filled with misery, doesn't mean there's no beauty in it.
I actually went through depression at an early stage of my life. and I have a psychological issue where I hallucinate and have problems with reality. honestly I used to think of attempting suicide for a long time. but since I am quite religious I've always kept a belief that killing oneself is wrong. we have our body which is our vessel and we should take care of it and seek help.
I couldn't read the article since it will make me sad and sympathetic, plus soon and am leaving to college I gotta prepare myself. If that student wrote all of those pages contemplating suicide then he thought about it for a long time. it's sad that no one noticed and talked to him. my friend had suicide issues before, and i can tell you it's intense. and it's WronG. and he got over it, now he is happy as a free bird.
going through issues in your life only develops you to be a stronger person. I've been accepted to so many scholarships around the world, now I'm a first honor degree student, with one 100% in math and physics, the reason why I'm saying this is that my life taught me to focus on what i want and need. and to accomplish the impossible. so that might happen to the people who thought about suicide and didn't do it. they might have had a bright future.
Yes i believe that suicide is wrong. and i strongly wish that people with these issues seek help. but otherwise, We don't judge others from our standards, cos for one thing "We don't know the circumstances nor the intentions" and we have no right in judging people with issues, it can be mental or psychological. so we can say it's wrong, but we judge the action not the person.
btw, I don't think it's immoral, also I think some of the cases are justifiable. but in special cases only. Overall I believe that it is curable and wrong to do, we shouldn't say to people that it is acceptable, even in special cases. cos we do want people to know that there is help out there. you only have to ask. we have the free will to pursue our life the way we want, in no harming others nor harming ourselves.
sorry for the long post. Thanks Brad for the article. gone to college....
Thanks, DragonTatt and Xanaza6 for sharing so candidly. Depression and suicide are epidemic and your honesty will help others around you. Please continue to share your experience and strength. If more people out there know your stories, they will not feel so alone, and may be more willing to seek help. THANKS!
If we put depression and suicide together I wouldn't make any value judgement. Can anyone blame to someone confused because a wrong decision?
If we are talking about someone sane, I will consider the case before say it's non ethical. I think we can't generalize.
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