Does depression always lead to suicide or are the signs less obvious

Victorine Ntambo discusses the many pressures of life in the 21^st century which frequently lead to depression and even suicide.

The end of the year comes with so many challenges and responsibilities to mankind. Students and lecturers face the end of the academic year while workers are faced with financial expectations by the dependents. Some might fail their exams, others might lose their jobs and most could not get paid the 11th cheque. It might feel like the world is crumbling on you. We should be conscious of the fact that in a capitalist society where people seem to live on the fastest lane, many lives reach the end before they are lived. We have heard, seen and even know people who threaten or think of taking their lives for one reason or the other. Some have even killed themselves or gotten killed by others. We often see depression as sadness. This sadness, however, lasts for as long as two weeks or more with the depressed person having no interest in life, being hopelessness, and having little energy.

Depression sets in when we have our minds trapped and our pride placed before the self. Many parents in South Africa and the world today are under tremendous pressure to meet the socio-economic demands of the environment in which they live. They barely can keep up with the demand for designer labels for both themselves and their children. Everything seems to cost money and every effort seems to take sleep away from you. Distressing feelings can affect one’s ability to perform their usual tasks and even the activities of daily living.

An extra burden comes along when parents have to shoulder the load of children rendered orphaned by friends and relatives. Some are single parents trying to raise their kids and they juggle with other pressures of the times. Similarly, children and students live with the pressure from their parents who expect them to grow up quicker than has ever been the case. As they provide the needs of their children, parents’ voices repeatedly echo in the mind of their children whenever they get to spend this hard earned money or use the things bought with this money. Most of the voices are similar and very familiar to you and I. Many parents now say: “I took out a loan to provide you with this” or “I gave up this or that to make sure you have this”. As a result, children grow up carrying a burden that is not naturally theirs. A burden created either by ignorance, by the pressure of the society and by the rhythm of the times.

In a student environment like Wits, there are many reasons why people could be so depressed and why they could commit or attempt to commit suicide. The pressure from mum and dad for us to be responsible and pay not just our bills but theirs too. The pressure for us to – in some instances – get a rich man or even woman. Peer pressure, self-imposed pressure, the pressure from lecturers, pressure from the institution as a whole and the pressure brought about by other external expectations are amongst the reasons. We must mind the choices we make in life. These choices range from the type of company we take and keep, the type of messages we retain, the goals we set for ourselves, the attitude we develop and the brand we want to build for ourselves. We should be able to develop milestones and reach each milestone at a time.

As you read this note, be reminded that many other children and students are placed in your position or in worse off positions. That you are a trillion-folds better off than millions of boys and girls out there, particularly in this dark continent. That you came this far because you could make it in life, that most people within your community admire your strength and wish they were you and that if the world does not give you a reason to live, you could give it many reasons to be here.

You could be depressed but one person around you could be so depressed that they contemplate suicide. As you associate with people, be on the lookout. Most depressed people contemplate suicide, either as individuals or as a group. Always make sure that both in yourself, your friends and your family members, you look out for warning signs of suicide. They include: talking about death or expressing to want to die, deep depression, a sudden lift in mood and preparing for death by for example talking about last days on earth, and giving possessions away. Do the right thing. Walk away from depression – think not of suicide. Be positive and happy, no matter what circumstance you find yourself in. Talk about your life and believe me, you will find out that people go through worst circumstances than you do. Examine yourself to know whether you need help or not. Seek help if you need to. Make yourself fulfilled and make a person happy. Place a value on happiness and life in general.

For more info, please check the website of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group. Depression helpline: +27 800 20 50 26 (8am-8pm Monday to Sunday). Suicide emergency helpline: +27 800 567567 (24hrs), or sms 31393 with your name and they will call you back.

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