"Those whom God wishes to destroy, he first makes mad" Euripides 400BC.
The quote, " those whom God wishes to destroy, he first makes mad" by Euripides clearly defines the argument that suicide is not a rational choice, but that suicide is closely linked to a mental illness or disorder. This essay will support the quote of Euripides and give substantial evidence to support the argument that suicide is not a rational or logical choice.
Suicide has nothing to do with rational or logical choice. To complete suicide one has to overcome the most powerful instinct there is, something is present in the most primitive of all life forms, something that is reflex, the very basis of life itself - the instinct to survive (Neame, 1997).
Suicide is defined as a state in which an individual is at risk for inflicting direct harm on him/herself. Most people do not resort to suicide unless their livies are so unbearable, unless their lives are suffering so much that for them, death is preferable to life (Lester, 1997).
What affects an individual so intensely, that they feel the need to end their own life? To understand this question, it is important to examine the major risk factor contributing to suicide. The main risk factors of suicide are; previous suicidal attempts, suicidal ideation, psychiatric illness, depression, poverty, unemployment, family relationship conflicts, child abuse and exposure to life events (DHAC and AIHW, 1999).
All of these risk factors have the potential to negatively affect an individuals physical, psychological and social health and affect he/she in such a way, that he/she may have the urge to take their own life. Suicide is not a rational choice. There are many underlying reasons and factors why an individual may kill themself. Although many interacting factors and issues often lead an individual to suicide, many people who choose to take thier own lives have a mental health problem (Baume, Cantort and McTaggart, 1997).
