Suicidal People are Attention Seeking

And so they should be if it means getting the help they need...

   National Suicide Prevention Day yesterday saw the spreading of love, support and awareness for mental health on social media. Unfortunately, it also laid bare the harmful mindsets surrounding those who choose to speak out about their mental illnesses.

   I ask you this: when you saw this blog post on your feed, did you click on it expecting to read a full blown rant about how mental health sufferers play the victim to get their two minutes of fame?

I don't blame you if you did.

   Let's examine the phrase, "attention seeking". It has many negative connotations but why should reaching out be viewed as something to be frowned upon? When a shock announcement is made on the news that a celebrity has committed suicide, the response is suddenly different. Twitter is drowned out by a tsunami of "#RIP..." tweets containing the suicide hotline number and solemn regrets that said celebrity did not speak out before it was too late.

Yet, when people do publicly speak out, they are dismissed as 'attention seeking'.

Tell me, is that not the point? To stop suffering in silence, make people listen and get the attention they need?

   Irish singer, Sinead O'Connor, 50, posted a tearful video on 3 August describing her struggle with depression, loneliness and suicidal thoughts. The video sparked a great deal of worry amongst her fans and local police were involved. It followed that she was then hospitalised and she has since spoken out about the video in an interview with Dr Phil. 

   Many showed overwhelming support for O'Connor, whilst others were not so kind. Comments on her ordeal included, "Get a grip and stop whining. Nobody is interested in your self indulgent claptrap," and "Total self absorbed egotist. Suffering yet she goes on Dr Phil." Again, why was she being shamed for being so public about her depression? It's this dangerous attitude that makes people afraid of speaking out in the first place. 

   A tweet slamming depression by kickboxer, Andrew Tate, 30, circulated this week.

Depression isn't real. You feel sad, you move on. You will always be depressed if your life is depressing. Change it. Thread.

— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) September 7, 2017

It states: "Depression isn't real. You feel sad, you move on. You will always be depressed if your life is depressing. Change it." He then goes on to say that, "Most depressed people are unhappy with their lives" and are "too lazy to change it." He denied that it is a clinical disease and claims that, "People will do anything to absolve responsibilities." 

   Tate faced an incredible backlash for his tweets but he continues to stand by what he said. There is a colossal difference between feeling sad and being depressed. That's what people with this attitude need to grasp.

   Only yesterday, YouTubers Olajide William "JJ" Olatunji (KSI), 24, and Joe Weller, 21, clashed onstage at Upload in London after KSI made derogatory comments about Weller's depression. To say the least, it is quite disturbing that people who are idolised by this generation are still upholding this stigma against mental illness.

    Even if that whole episode was a classic publicity stunt - we, as viewers, are no stranger to those - what wasn't fake was the response from their fans with many defending KSI's comments and emasculating Weller for being upset.

   Yes, some suicidal people are seeking attention but many are not. That's where the real problem lies. We should be encouraging people to come forward if they are not feeling right in themselves. We should be encouraging people to share their worries. We should be encouraging people to get help.

Why? Because they need our attention.

What are your thoughts on this article?

Let me know in the comments below!