The risk factors associated with suicide include life stresses, a weak social network, impaired family ties, depression, low resistance to strain, and oversensitivity to rejection. Everyone faces setbacks, many have endured failure; but still emerged strong. There are few who have never experienced emotional catastrophes. However some people’s supply of prowess fails to meet demands of the stressors. These people are at risk for perceiving stressors as overwhelming. They presume there’s no way out of it. Major psychiatric illnesses like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, some of the personality disorders, and virtually all mental disorders can raise the possibility of suicidality.

A suicide threat is never to be taken lightly. Contrary to the popular myth, those those who say it will not actually do it; completed suicides are common among people who have voiced their suicidal idea. At the same time, non-fatal suicidal behaviours also exist. These range from an extreme intent to die to varying degrees of cry for help. These people are looking out for a helping hand and want a way to end their suffering, not essentially their life. Needless to say, one must always pay attention to distress signs among dear ones to prevent devastating consequences of neglect.

Stressors masquerade in multiple forms and faces- financial troubles, work related issues, relational tribulations, adjustment problems; all of them tend to overpower the individual who stands helpless, dejected and has exhausted all psychological defenses and coping mechanisms to bear the pain anymore. Such people lose hope, cannot look beyond their grief, and want to escape. Suicide seems like a viable option to them since they see no other feasible choice.

There are people who know they can make it ahead in life. Survival is no challenge and they are willing to face it. They have no suicidal thoughts. Like Shakespeare put the options in Hamlet: ‘To be’. Then there are those who feel they cannot, will not and do not want to survive. They usually end in self-annihilation. They want: ‘Not to be’. And then there are also some who are unsure about it: ‘To be/Not to be’. They have the incomplete suicide attempts at self-harm. They are the ones who want an escape from life, but not essentially seek death. Some of them may have casual last conversations with loved ones and go ahead and end themselves. It becomes very difficult to understand the mental state of the one who did what he or she did, to never come back.

MINDFRAMES believes in the importance of building defences and strengthening coping mechanisms to bear with the stresses and strains of life. Instilling positivity and enabling people to deal with stress helps build their resilience and prevent their suicidal move. At the same time, supportive psychotherapy and crisis management aim to generate more positive perceptions and perspectives in life. Everyone needs and deserves a shoulder for support. It is quintessential to enhance family and friend support for people who find it hard to cope with stressors, help them find purpose in life, and make them see its worth.