Suicide is sadly very common and tragic to the person who attempts it and to any of those loved ones left behind. Suicide is the single leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK. To often these days we hear of people in the media ending their life prematurely.
My own observation is that is often about shame which makes me think of the honour suicides practised in Japan from the early 12th century. Seppuku allowed disgraced or defeated warriors to die with dignity rather than face torture, capture, or execution by enemies.
Many in Japan followed the code of Bushido. This involved strict samurai values, demonstrating bravery, sincerity, self-control, and deep personal accountability. Traditional ritual honour suicides like Seppuku no longer exist as socially sanctioned practices in Japan today.
Although Japan’s numbers of suicides has reduced since the 2000’s it is still much higher than the UK today. The reasons for this are complex but I do wonder sometimes if the culture of shame (honour) affects people more in Japan as they have a very strong work culture.
Increasingly in the UK in the mainstream media and social media their is a microscope on people who claim benefits and/or don’t work. Often this can be sick or disabled people. A culture of shame has been created that is worsening peoples mental health.
There is an alliance of hostile voices that promote hate of the “economically inactive” and poor plus bureaucracies that make it close to impossible to navigate and address issues like housing, basic income and hunger. It’s no surprise that many choose to take their own life.
With the push for assisted dying in the UK, people with disabilities feel they are under pressure to end their life. As a individual with Schizoaffective Disorder and Autism I do feel pressure to do an honour suicide because I struggle to function some days and don’t work.
I usually avoid people these days if I can. As the first question that comes up is “What do you do?” and from that answer I am often put into a Shame category that makes navigating life just the more difficult.
So much of peoples identity is on their occupational role yet most on their death bed don’t say “I wished I worked more hours”. I guess identifying as “Economic Units” makes the billionaires happy. What I do know is I am Shaun and I have value as a human being.