IN response to Mariam Mokhtar’s letter, “Let’s not fail them twice” (NST, Nov 27), I wholly agree it is society’s role to help those in despair, especially those who are suicidal. Suicide rates have risen for the past few years within the Asian region.

There are various reasons why a person chooses death as the easy path. Let us all understand that a suicidal individual is not a stereotypical person with depressed looks and a long list of troubles to his name. Anyone can be suicidal regardless of age, appearances, family background and occupation.

Suicide happens without a warning. What drives a person to commit suicide, no one knows. Even a child as young as 10 is capable of suicide; let us not forget that suicide among children is becoming prevalent.

Let us not blame movies or celebrities who glorify suicide. Nor should we judge suicidal individuals as a stupid and desperate lot vying for attention. Suicidal individuals are like everyone else — they need someone to hear them out and give them a shoulder to cry on.

They should not be pushed aside and ignored. Let us put ourselves in the shoes of a suicidal person for a moment and understand how it feels to have the feeling of despair as though there is no way out. Not very pleasant, isn’t it?

I wholly disagree with criminally charging a suicidal person for attempting suicide. This move is only going to worsen the situation since this is tantamount to telling the suicidal person that it is his fault.

No suicidal person deserves to be criminally charged and they need to be heard rather than punished.

To have more doctors, counsellors and psychologists is just not enough to tackle the suicide issue among Malay-sians. Perhaps we should stop being so judgmental and start listening to them as well. Let us all listen and give suicidal individuals the hope, support and assurance they truly need to know that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

S. YIN, Auckland, New Zealand

Source: NST – December 2, 2008