Lyceum of the Philippines University- Batangas

College of Education Arts and Sciences

MASSIVE SUICIDE

A personal article by
Caryl Mitzi M. Balmes
October 2014

(Partial fulfillment of the requirement in English Plus)

Submitted to:
Prof. Vivian A. Perez

MASSIVE SUICIDE

I.

Introduction

Be not over much wicked, neither be you foolish: why should you die before
your time? Ecclesiastes 7:17

Suicide is something not pleasurable but why many people intended to

commit suicide? Why there are people who want death when there are people
seeks to have life. What can be the cause of all this unreasonable, wicked and
illiberality? How this starts? Can we still put a stop to this?

II.

Body

History of Suicide
Suicide, attempted suicide and thoughts of committing suicide are growing
problems and troubles among the young people of the world during the early
2000s.
In Ancient Greece, suicide was not considered to be wrong in itself; they

believed that there had to be a good reason for it. Plato was considered to be
often contrasting to suicide, he made three important exceptions: when legally
ordered by the State; for painful and incurable illness; and when one is forced to
it by the occurrence of some intolerable misfortune.
Two other Greek philosophers, Democritus and Speusippus, both
committed suicide because of health problems when they were very old. Then,
the Epicureans felt that when life became unbearable, suicide was justified.
In Ancient Rome, citizens are not prohibited to commit suicide. However,
suicide was prohibited for slaves and soldiers: the former for economic
considerations, and the end for patriotic reasons. They do not considered life as
a gift of the gods, most Romans supported the idea of suicide for specific
situations, such as individuals preferring death to dishonor, or those who wished
to avoid the ruin of adulthood.
In the fourth century, a strict prohibition of suicide was adopted - and, it
became a mortal sin. In the Mid Ages, suicide was often regarded as the result of
temptation, induced by hopelessness or madness. Penalties were inflicted on the
dead body who committed suicide - such as dragging it through the streets where
the deceased had lived, and hanging it.
Suicide began to change slowly during the Renaissance. Thomas More, a
writer, notes that someone with a painful, incurable disease can Free himself
from this bitter life, since by death he will put an end not to enjoyment but to
torture Later, Michel de Montaigne, in his essays, conclude that Unendurable
pain and fear of a worse death seem the most excusable motives for suicide.
In the 19th century in England, indicates that an individual was only insane
at the actual moment of suicide. And among the Aristocracy, some suicides were
attributed more to accidents than to madness. Such satires indicated a growing

hesitancy towards suicide. I this century, the religious penalties was finally
abandoned.

Definition of Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide
is often carried out as a result of despair, the cause of which is frequently
attributed to a mental disorder such as depression and anxiety. Attempted suicide
is self-injury with the desire to end one's life that does not result in
death. Assisted suicide is when one individual helps another bring about their
own death indirectly by providing either advice or the means to the end. This is in
contrast to euthanasia, where another person takes a more active role in bringing
about a person's death. Suicidal ideations are thoughts of ending one's life but
not taking any active efforts to do so.
Types of Suicides
Suicide method is any means by which a person commits suicide,
purposely taking his or her own life. Suicide methods can be classified according
to two modes of interrupting one's life processes: physical or chemical. Physical
modes of interruption typically act by incapacitating the respiratory system or
the central nervous system, usually by destruction of one or more key
components. Chemical modes focus on interrupting biologically significant
processes such as cellular respiration or diffusion capacity

Drowning
Convincing yourself to walk into a large body or water will do it otherwise

many perish in as little water as a slightly-filled bathtub.

Electric Shock

Something as simple as jamming a utensil in a wall outlet, to the more

notable dunking an appliance in an occupied bathtub can result in death by
electric shock.

Exsanguinations
Frequently the most obvious way to rapidly harm one's self yet pass

on relatively slowly, is to slit the wrists or femoral artery. Using a sharp

implement is the easiest way to go. Razors or knives are popular.

Jumping
Leaping from a building to the pavement below is quite lethal, and

popular. However, romantics may choose to use a cliff over jagged rocks or
bridges.

Suffocation
Encasing head in a plastic bag and suffocate sometimes with nitrogen

or helium directly. Locking self in a car, in a closed garage with the engine
running and go to sleep.

Poisoning
Taking a substance internally not meant to be done so can be

considered poisoning: cleaners, industrial fluids ay cide-substance.

Hanging
Using rope and construct a noose then wrap in the neck. Once built,

wrap one end securely around something high: a rafter or a ceiling fan, and
leap, head fastened within the loop, from a chair.

Drug / Alcohol Overdose

Taking too much medicine.

Gun Shot
Shot in the head, heart or any critical part in your body

Cases of Suicide
Where: Batangas, Philippines

Who: Two students in Batangas State University

-

Daveson Beron, 22, a mechanical engineering student at Batangas

State University

Don Benedict Pamintuan, 17, a physical therapy (freshman)

What: Gunshot Suicide

Details:
Beron was found with a gunshot wound in the right temple by his mother
Analiza at 12:30 p.m. inside their house in Purok 3, Barangay Bolbok, Batangas
City, while Pamintuan was found by his father at 4:15 p.m. inside their bathroom
in Nasugbu, Batangas
.
Scene of the crime investigators found the caliber .38 revolvers beside
Berons body and a laptop with a message written on its screen: Im sorry, I quit.
Police also found Berons cell phone with a message of apology to his parents
and siblings for failing to graduate this year. He also asked their forgiveness for
having been a disappointment. He thanked them for guiding him, promised he
would be watching over them, and asked for prayers. The family verified school
records and was able to confirm that his name was not among the list of
graduating students.
Meanwhile, investigators said Pamintuan apparently aimed the shotgun
under his chin and pulled the trigger, sending splatters of blood and brain on the
walls and ceiling. The shotgun, owned by a security guard assigned to man the
family hardware store, was stored in the stockroom beside the victims room.
The family said Pamintuan could have been depressed when he found out that
he got failing grades in four subjects, and was to be transferred to the Batangas
State University this coming school year. No suicide note was found beside
Pamintuans body.
Where: Batangas, Philippines
Who: Sophomore student in Saint Bridget Colleges

Lee Young Gunay, 14 years old

What: Gunshot Suicide
Details:
Tragedy struck a well-known Catholic school in Batangas province when a
14-year-old male student shot himself inside their house Monday afternoon after
allegedly experiencing consistent bullying from his classmates. Police found Lee
Young Gunay, a second-year student of St. Bridget College, sprawled dead
inside his parents' room in Madonna Homes Subdivision in Barangay Alangilan,
Batangas City around 10:00 p.m.
Gunay sustained a single gunshot wound on his right temple, police said.
Shaina ( a cousin) revealed that she was able to read from Lees Facebook wall
as saying "Dapat tumigil na tayo sa pambu-bully kay Lee."
"Ngayon ko lang nalaman sa mga classmates nya (Lee) na kung ano-ano pala
ang itinatawag sa kanya noong nabubuhay pa sya. Tinatawag daw syang
bulugan, bakla at may body odor kaya laging tinutukso na naba-busted sa mga
nililigawan niya," Shaina said while holding back tears. She said her cousin's
grades could have been affected by the constant bullying. "Ang alam ko
nagsumbong din si Kuya Lee sa teacher niya kaya lang deadma lang sila,"
Shaina alleged.

A text message was also retrieved from Lees phone saying, "Mam, wag
nyo naman po ako ibabagsak, malaki na po ang problema ng pamilya ko".
Dapat kami muna ang kinausap ng adviser nya bago nya sinabi sa bata na may
bagsak syang subject. Alam kong ayaw na ipaalam ng anak namin ang problema
nya dahil sa sakit ko at sa hirap ding dinadanas ng mommy nya sa trabaho,"
Willy (Lees Father) said.
"Hindi din alam ng teacher ni Lee na kaya bumabagsak ang anak ko ay dahil sa
pambu-bully sa kanya sa school," he added.
Police recovered a blood-soaked note beside Lee's body with the words
"Mame, Hwag nyo po kalimutan na mahal ko kayo, Lei".
Reason of Suicide

The most common reasons for suicide or suicidal behavior among children
and adolescents involve personal conflict or loss, most frequently with parents or
romantic attachments. Family conflict, physical or sexual abuse, and an
upcoming legal or disciplinary crisis are also commonly associated with
completed and attempted suicide. Adolescents who complete suicide show
relatively high suicidal objective and many are under the influence of drugs at the
time of death. The most serious suicide attempters leave suicide notes, show
evidence of planning, and use an irreversible method, such as a gunshot to the
head. Most adolescent suicide attempts, though, are of relatively low intent and
lethality, and only a small number of these individuals actually want to die.
Usually, suicide attempters want to escape psychological pain or unbearable
circumstances, gain attention, influence others, or communicate strong feelings.

Psychological problems: Depression, previous attempts at suicide, and

having received psychiatric care in the past.

Personal failure: Unmet high standards set by the teen or parents,

including failing grades in school or poor performance in sports.

Recent

loss:

Death

of

close

friend

or

family

member, divorce, abandonment by a parent, pregnancy, and the breakup

with a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Substance abuse: Abuse of alcohol and other drugs as forms of selfmedication for overwhelming depression. A combination of depression,

substance abuse, and lowered impulse control can lead to suicide or

attempted suicide. Substance abuse in other family members can also
lead to suicide.

Household guns: Easy access to a gun. Children of law enforcement

officers have a much higher suicide rate because of the accessibility of
guns in their houses. The most common method of suicide among teens
is gunshot.

Violence: Violence against the teen either at home or outside the home,
including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, or bullying. Violence at
home or against the youth teaches teens that the way to resolve conflict is
through violence, and suicide is the ultimate act of self-violence.

Communication problems: The inability to discuss anger or other

uncomfortable feelings with family members or friends. These feelings
can include loneliness, rejection, and awareness of one's gay or bisexual
sexual orientation.

By mental health professionals the answer is simply depression.

Depression is a serious mood disorder that affects the way a person thinks, feels
and acts. It is not just a feeling of depressed for no reason for a day or two.
Suicide appears to be a reasonable, real choice. Suicide will end a persons
emotional suffering instantly, and it makes the person feel like they are removing
one of the causes of pain and suffering for others in their lives as well.
What a lot of people who have never experienced a serious depression or
suicidal thoughts dont understand is how could someone feel so hopeless and
depressed to consider ending their entire life? The answer is often rooted in how
hopeless and endless the depression seems to be.
A big part of depression is thinking irrationally. This means a person is
putting together the pieces of their life in a way that wouldnt make sense to most

others. There is an overemphasis on some pieces or some feelings that others

would think are being blown out of proportion. But someone who is depressed
often cant think any differently the depression is causing them to emphasize
or focus on things that only contribute to the depression.
Impact of Suicide
The effects of suicidal behavior or completed suicide on friends and family
members are often devastating. Individuals who lose a loved one to suicide are
more at risk for becoming preoccupied with the reason for the suicide while
wanting to deny or hide the cause of death, wondering if they could have
prevented it, feeling blamed for the problems that preceded the suicide, feeling
rejected by their loved one, and stigmatized by others. Survivors may experience
a great range of differing emotions about the deceased, feeling everything from
intense emotional pain and sadness about the loss, helpless to prevent it, longing
for the person they lost, and anger at the deceased for taking their own life to
relief if the suicide took place after years of physical or mental illness in their
loved one. This is quite understandable given that the person they are grieving is
at the same time the victim and the perpetrator of the fatal act.
Individuals left behind by the suicide of a loved one tend to experience
complicated grief in reaction to that loss. Symptoms of grief that may be
experienced by suicide survivors include intense emotion and longings for the
deceased.

Partners

Losing the person you have chosen to share your life with can destroy your
hopes and expectations for the future. You may feel guilty that you did not do
enough.

Siblings

When you lose a brother or a sister, you lose someone who shared many
experiences and memories and who you may have expected to be with you for
most of your life. Many siblings share a deep, protective connection. You may
feel very guilty that you did not do enough to help them or that you are still alive
when they are not. Twins may feel an even more extreme sense of loss
emotional and physical and may feel further isolated as so few will have a
shared understanding of their experience.

Parents

The death of our parents is always challenging but even more so when they die
by suicide. It can invoke feelings of abandonment or rejection when someone
who holds a key caring and guiding role in our lives takes their own life. The loss
of a parent can have a particularly damaging effect on our self esteem.

Friends and Colleagues

Even if you are not related at all, you may still find that you are deeply affected by
the suicide of a friend or colleague, particularly if you had a very close
relationship or if you were part of a very close community perhaps through
education or work. If they were a close friend you will grieve for their loss and
may wonder if you could have done something to prevent their death.

Solution/Prevention to Suicide
Suicide prevention is a term used for the collective efforts to reduce the
incidence of suicide through preventive measures. Reducing access to certain
methods, such as firearms or toxins reduces the risk. Treatment of drug and
alcohol addiction, depression, and those who have attempted suicide in the past
may also be effective. Some have proposed reducing access to alcohol as a

preventative strategy (such as reducing the number of bars)

The challenge with getting help, though, is acknowledging the need for
help not only to yourself, but to others in your life. People often feel ashamed or
that theres something wrong with them if they need to go see a therapist or
psychiatrist. The other thought that often goes through someones mind who is
depressed is they cannot be helped. That their depression is so out of control
and mess up ad that there is no helping them. That is the depression talking.
Help is available and for the vast majority of people, who seek it, they feel better
some within days, Whether it be psychotherapy from a Psychologist,
medication or a combination of the two, most people get relief from those
overwhelming feelings of depression and hopelessness.
Once the relief sets in, the suicidal thoughts and urges begin to fade. A
person regains some small of hope, which gradually builds and blooms over
time. The idea of suicide, a year later, seems like a remote act of desperation to
cry out, to stop the pain and suffering, to let others know how much you hurt.

Conclusion
Suicide have been massive throughout the span of time and its because
of the massive loss of a individual in a family, relationship and even love ones
that results to a massive depression that eventually leads a person to idea of
taking his own life. We cant prevent the loss of someone because God has
already set when we are going to lose them but we must work on the thing we
can prevent and that is overcoming Depression. Not only to ourselves but to
others. Note that suicide is never ever a solution. There is no problem so great
that it cannot be resolved with time and care. Remember, no matter how bad
things get someone, somewhere is able to listen to you and help you through.
A loss is painful so dont let yourself to be a another loss. Hold On.

Recommendation
1. Suicide must be one of the major concern of a country especially countries
with highest rates of suicide cases.
2. Schools and homes should guide their kids in terms of emotional problems.
The child must prevent away from severe depression.
3. Reduce public access of harmful materials such as firearms and alcohol.

Reference:
Suicide and Suicidal
http://www.healthofchildren.com/S/Suicide-and-Suicidal
Suicidal Behavior
Behavior Site: Suicidal-Behavior.html#ixzz3FJCTOeTkI
Suicide Definition/Types
http://wikipedia.com/suicide
Suicide Infos (2014)
Available online at: http://www.healthofchildren.com/S/Suicide-and-SuicidalBehavior.html