NAME: Anna Virk
Homework 6: Exploring Suicide (Week 4)
INSTRUCTIONS: After reading the Modules on Mood-related Disorders and Suicide and
following the directions on the Syllabus regarding other required readings for Week 4, students
are asked to complete the following assignment. Answer the following questions by typing and
double-spacing your responses under each numbered item. PLEASE NOTE: If you quote from
the Modules or the required readings directly, you must cite the sources in proper APA format
and as full References in APA at the end of the worksheet.
This assignment must be emailed as a word document attachment to Dr. Aalai by 6 pm on
Friday, June 23. LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Please TYPE AND DOUBLE-SPACE responses below each numbered question.
Reminder, students are also tasked to read this article on K-Pop suicides (also posted as a PDF file under
BB: Course Assignments if URL does not work): https://people.com/music/inside-heartbreaking-kpopsuicides-the-loneliness-settles-in-says-singer-amber-liu/
(1) In what ways do you think the stigma associated with suicide is contributing to continued
silence regarding speaking openly about suicide ideation or more difficult emotions or
experiences, even among people we are close to, such a family or friends? For instance,
there is this myth that if we ask people whether or not they are thinking of hurting
themselves that this could trigger them to become suicidal—this is not true. But
nonetheless it remains difficult to speak openly about suicide or thoughts of self-harm,
why do you think this is?
a. The stigma associated with suicide is contributing to silence regarding speaking
openly about suicide ideation or thoughts of self-harm. Those who have
committed suicide are labeled as mentally ill and put in a box with certain
assumptions about them. Speaking about having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of
self-harm can make, given the stigmas, can make them seem weak or attention
seeking. People who are truly struggling do not want to be labeled as attention
seeking or weak so that makes it difficult to openly speak about it. On the other
hand, there can be serious consequences to admitting that you are having suicidal
ideation or thoughts of self-harm. For example, one may be hospitalized to ensure
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that you do not end up harming yourself and are forced to take a break from your
real life. This can add anxiety and make it difficult to speak up about how
someone is truly feeling.
(2) Can you think of any specific pop cultural examples that have contributed either to
suicide being more openly discussed in our society or more stigmatized?
a. The Netflix show Thirteen Reasons Why has contributed to the stigma of suicide.
In that show, they portray suicide very graphically and for superficial reasons.
This adds to the stigma of suicide as those who commit suicide are selfish or
“weak minded.” In the show, the main character who does commit suicide leaves
behind thirteen tapes explaining a reason on each tape as to why she did it. The
reasons are not very serious reasons and are essentially things that most teenagers
go through in high school. This takes away from the seriousness of suicide and
how most people who commit suicide are fighting a silent mental battle before
they do it. Many do not want to openly speak out the battle they are facing as they
do not want to be seen as “weak” for feeling that way. Pop culture such as shows
like Thirteen Reasons Why downplay the seriousness of suicide and contribute to
the stigma that keeps many silent about their own struggles until it is too late.
(3) What role do you think culture plays in suicidal ideation and values or stigmas associated
with suicide?
a. Culture plays a huge role in suicidal ideation and stigmas associated with suicide.
For example, my family comes from Punjabi culture and the suicide rate within
Punjabi culture has increased due to financial stresses and school stresses. There
is little to none conversation about mental health in Punjabi culture and there is a
lot of cultural pressure on men to provide for their families. Since many of the
men are farmers in Punjabi culture, when they are struggling to provide, they do
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not speak up as they do not want to be seen as failures. Instead they let the
pressure build up and end up committing suicide as they view that as the only
solution to their problem.
(4) After watching the video short from the Module on suicide about the challenges
transgender youth experience and the elevated suicide rates for Trans individuals, why do
you think LGBTQ youth are more at risk for suicide? Anything specific in the video that
stuck out to you?
a. I think LGBTQ youth are more at risk for suicide due to the identity stigma. It can
be difficult to navigate your identity in general but when you are trying to
navigate it as LGBTQ, there is a lot of judgement and stereotypes that come along
with it. Many families may not support the person’s decision or the person may
not feel comfortable conforming to the identity that they are. These feelings can
become bottled up or feel like they are not supported, which can lead them to a
higher risk of suicide.
(5) Were you surprised by what you read in the article (see link above) regarding the recent
numbers of suicide among K-pop members? What specifically about these figures do you
think makes them particularly vulnerable to suicide?
a. I think they are particularly vulnerable to suicide due to the high attention they
receive and the negative opinions they receive through social media. They get a
lot of attention and some negative responses can take a toll on someone mentally,
leading them to feel depressed and questioning if they should be alive or not.
(6) Recent numbers suggest that suicide has been on the rise since the pandemic, particularly
for young women. In what way might the pandemic be triggering for those individuals
already at risk for suicide? Can you think of any ways to try and prevent or protect people
who are vulnerable for suicide at this time?
a. The pandemic can be triggering for those individuals who are already at risk for
suicide as they may be isolated with their own thoughts, or they are now placed in
circumstances that can push them over the edge. People who are vulnerable for
suicide at this time should be in talk therapy or given resources to help them out
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of the circumstances that the pandemic may have placed them in. There should be
groups created for those that are feeling suicidal so that they can see that they are
not alone in the struggle and they may be able to help each other heal through it.
(7) How might social media in particular make this cultural moment particularly dangerous
for teenagers, and girls in particular, from the perspective of suicide risk?
a. Social media makes this cultural moment particularly dangerous for teenagers,
especially girls, from the perspective of suicide risk has to be the comparison that
social media allows. Girls, especially, find themselves comparing themselves to
other women or female celebrities. This can be comparing their looks or
comparing their lives. This is quite dangerous because most of what we see on
social media is not even real or is an unrealistic standard. Comparing yourself as a
young girl to these standards can result in a higher risk of suicidal thoughts or
even thoughts of self-harm.
(8) In what way is grief a potential contributor to a rise in suicide among young people,
particularly since the pandemic, do you think?
a. Grief is a potential contributor to a rise in suicide among young people, especially
since the pandemic, is because of the circumstances that have occurred due to the
pandemic. Circumstances such as family and friends passing away, job loss
leading to financial hardship, increases in debt due to higher costs of living and
same wages, losing homes or having to move. These circumstances can result in
many feeling like they have no other options or solutions outside of suicide. Also,
they may internalize the negative feelings from these circumstances and end up
seeing suicide as the only solution.
(9) ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS/COMMENTS:
References
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88% of over 9,000 Punjab farmers who died by suicide in 18 years were debt-ridden: Study. The
Wire. (n.d.). https://thewire.in/agriculture/farmer-suicides-punjab
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