![image](https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/05/22/23/45/hopelessness-3422885_960_720.jpg)

So earlier today i was engaged in a conversation on my timeline. It was about a trending issuing about a young man who took his life after being falsely accused of sexual assault and tagged a rapist. 

There are so many polarising thoughts and opinions regarding this issue.  One of such opinions that caught my attention was that suicide is a selfish act. I find this hard to take because i have been suicidal at some point in my life where i hit rock bottom and having people equate that whole traumatic expression as something selfish is really a bitter pill to swallow.  It wasn't a pleasant experience and quite frankly, i could have taken my life if i didn't get the support i needed immediately. This brings into question something most people tend to forget: support.

Having a good support system is paramount to everything in life, both in relationships and the workplace. When people cannot find help when they need it they easily capitulate under intense pressure. This is something i have felt and understand. It is also easy to feel alone in such situations, even when you're surrounded by people who care about you. It takes extra courage to speak about being suicidal. It is often seen as a taboo and when people make statements that reinforce those myths surround suicide, it becomes more uncomfortably for people dealing with chronic depression.

There is an insane law in my country that makes suicide or should i say attempted suicide a crime which is not only laughable but pathetic. I think going to jail would be the last thing on my mind if i wanted to take my life but nevertheless, it deeply sad.  How does a country contribute to the stigma and the uncomfortable position of one being suicidal? It is hard to fathom. 
On the religious front, this is as uncomfortable as it can get. I am a Christian and yes, suicide is considered a sin, and thats the first thing people throw at your face when you mention being suicidal.

*How can you even have such thoughts?*

 There are so many things that are labelled sins in our holy book many of us find ways to justify, for example taking someone else's life. Killing is also a sin in the Bible,

*thou shall not kill*

 but there were many instances where people had to kill in the Bible. Till date, people still kill other people for various reasons and some are deemed justifiable (accidents, self-defensive, national security, etc). So we all can justify our actions one way or another as long as it suits our narrative or agenda. This is one of the reasons the concept of right and wrong is laughable because too many this is a very subjective thing based on one's beliefs.

Now, i am not advocating for people to take their life if they want, but i understand why anyone would want to. It's a sad thing and often reveals the flaws in our society and relationships. Your best friend might be having the worst thing of his/her and youre oblivious about until you hear the news and it becomes means or way for introspection.

 I speak from a place of empathy because it saved my life. * People need love and support in their darkest hour, not judgement..* There is more to life than being right or wrong--life transcends that your morals or whatever fabrication you hold sacred. Life is feeble and can be lost in a twinkle of an eye. We are all too quick to judge people's actions when we can simply listen and understand.

Well, i want to hear your opinion on this issue. Do you consider suicide to be a selfish act? Is being alive a selfless act? Help me understand.

***

image source:
https://pixabay.com/images/id-3422885/