Re: Committing suicide: a way out? (7B Ng Ka Chun)

The Editor,

South China Morning Post,

GPO Box 50, Hong Kong

Dear Editor,

Re: Committing suicide: a way out?

I am writing to express my points of view on the issue of suicides in Hong Kong. In the past few years, the number of cases of suicides has increased dramatically. Some quote financial problems, unhappy marriages and stress as the major reasons for committing suicide. As the issue has come to an alarming state, we should reveal what things have set the backdrop and why suicide is not the way to solve problems.

The sudden economic downturn has brought many adversities to Hong Kong people. For example, they have lost their properties and jobs within a short period of time, and their economic difficulties have even led to unhappy marriages. What mentioned have laid burdens to people. They have to bear the stress from all aspects in work and families. As a result, some resort to committing suicide, believing that it is the only way to solve problems.

To be frank, committing suicide is not the way to solve problems but it leads to negative effects upon oneself, families, and the society.

To begin with, people who commit suicide definitely want to escape from the problems. When people come across adversities like being fired, they are scared and worried whether they are able to sustain the livelihood. With sorrow and

disappointment, some may commit suicide. However, have they ever considered the poor living below the poverty line, striving for food and warmth every day? Will the people committing suicide become shameful if the images of the poor spark in their minds? There are far more than thousands of people who die of malnutrition and diseases. What Hong Kong people facing are short-term difficulties, while the battles brought by suicide to the family is long lasting. Committing suicide is just a sign of weakness. The plights actually strengthen our resilience.

The suicide of a family member does harm to the family. Imagine if you are facing the difficulties, the death of your family member deteriorates the scenario. You have really been plunged by two things at the same time. Definitely, committing suicide has not solved any problem. What it does is leaving the family a mess.

Finally, committing suicide is possible to contribute a negative atmosphere to the society. With reference to Japan and Korea, the great number of suicide cases shows us committing suicide may become a “trend” when something unfortunate occurs to us. It may become a chain reaction propagated in the society and its root is deeply penetrating into the culture. If so, our kids may risk ending their lives just because of a failure in dictation! No one would expect such a depressing and pessimistic tone persisting in our surroundings.

In conclusion, suicide is not the way to solve problems as it is harmful to others and the problem itself does not disappear when suicide taken place. People facing difficulties should learn how to “turn adversities into opportunities”, which means that if everyone considers adversities as opportunities, they become more resilient and optimistic. Whatever how tough the condition is, nothing is insurmountable.

Yours faithfully,

Chris Wong