Suicide Doesn't End The Pain
Suicide's Stigmas Make Seeking Help More Difficult, Vital
Tuesday's suicide by former U.S. beach volleyball silver medalist Mike Whitmarsh may end his pain permanently, but it only begins the agony for family and friends.
According to a story in Yahoo! Sports, Whitmarsh, 46, who won a silver medal in the first Olympics for beach volleyball, killed himself through carbon monoxide poisoning in his friend's garage. The San Diego Medial Examiner's Office confirmed the cause of death, according to a story in The San Diego Union Tribune Wednesday.
"We are shocked and saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of Mike Whitmarsh," USA Volleyball CEO Doug Beal said in a statement. "Our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences go out to his family for their loss at this tragic time."
Most people say they can understand the feelings of profound sadness and despair that often come with suicide attempts. However, there is still a stigma attached to suicide. According to a page provided by metanoia.org, a Web site devoted to "break[ing] down barriers that keep people from getting the help they need," people are taught that suicidal people are "shameful, sinful, weak, selfish, manipulative."
However, those labels are untrue.
According to Metanoia's page devoted to the stigma of suicide, "no scientific study has ever confirmed that a significant proportion of suicidal people have these qualities." However, the page says people are taught those labels from childhood, which reinforces the stigmas attached to suicide.
Metanoia is not the only source pointing to the stigma of suicide. Suicide.org has a page that discusses the same issue. It points to the greater concern about mental illness in general.
An old commercial depicts a man making a "crazy" motion with his right index finger circling an area about six inches from his ear. The announcer intoned, "you wouldn't make fun of cancer, would you?" which got the man to stop. Even though that commercial stopped airing a long time ago, the fact that two Web sites discuss stigmas points to the problem still being prevalent.
None of that will bring Whitmarsh back, however. According to the Yahoo! Sports story, his wife and two daughters will have to pick up the pieces from his suicide. Even though Whitmarsh's pain has ended, he won't be able to feel any relif. In addition, his family's pain has just begun.
Anyone who's feeling suicidal should visit resources available through www.metanoia.org, speak to a counselor, priest or trusted friend. Suicide doesn't end pain. It causes it.
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