Suicide In North America Essay

In North America, we are dependant on the idea of the American Dream; good jobs to pay for all our wants and needs. But when our ability to pay for our desires is threatened, some may turn to suicide as an escape from issues we cannot face. In recent years, suicide in North America has been on the rise, with all walks of life affected. From newly unemployed men and women killing themselves after the economic crash of 2008, to young girls killing themselves as a result of being publicly shamed on the internet, it is my belief that while death is not celebrated or encouraged it can be an alternative to failure in North America. Soceity discourages people killing themselves yet to some it is the best option. Suicide, act of one ending their own
life and the mental health issues that are associated with it, is not something society is able to accept. In contrast to cultures in Asia and the South Pacific, suicide is considered a noble and honourable act (Miller, Barbara, Cultural Anthropology in a Globalizing World 2011, P.189). Suicide can be seen as an escape for someone where they see no other option. In North America, after the crash of 2008, suicides increased substantially. The fear of failing and being out of work drove many newly unemployed workers to suicide. In North America, money and jobs are viewed as vital to life, if we lose them then death can often be the only thing left.
According a Financial Post article by Sharon Kirkey, “suicide is 2.5 times more likely among the unemployed”, with debt being a risk factor to depression and suicide (Kirkey, Sharon, 2014). After the economic meltdown there was at least 10,000 additional “economic suicides” across Europe and North America. Countries such as Sweden prevented increased suicides with programs to get people back to work (Kirkey, 2014). Other factors that could lead to suicide among workers is gender norms. Many workers laid off were men, where the idea of a strong male who does not talk about their feelings as enforced by gender constructs, may have resulted in pent up depression with suicide s their only way of escaping. In North America, suicide is not promoted, yet it becomes an attractive out when we are no longer are able to meet the standards we have set out for ourselves in society. What the article demonstrates about death in North America is that despite peoples best efforts to help people away from suicide, death can be an escape. There is a need to feel in control in North America about our lives and death. Death in North America is unknown and often scary to us but when we become so fed up with life it becomes a
better alternative.