Thursday, June 25, 2020

The Celebrity Suicide


Sushant Singh Rajput, a celebrity whose suicide has become a point of discussion ever since he wiped himself out. Either individually or collectively people take a pause to think about the different aspects related to such unexpected and untimely departures of people, especially the renowned ones. Here are a few more things to consider, in particular, what likely inducements they had, who could have possibly restored their faith in life and what message can we extract from this tragic episode.

Do celebrities really have a reason to do so?

When we witness celebrities, a majority of us are envious. They inspire us to follow our dreams, to rise above the rest and strive till we reach our best. We believe they have access to everything one could have asked for. And they could have no reason to be anxious. We have seen them rise and shine. That they could have a reasonable ground to inflict self-damage is out of question. These personalities who have devastated themselves does not include only actors or actresses but also singers, fashion designers, models, wrestlers, best-selling authors, CEOs and all those professionals whose lives are considered to be quite enchanting. But alas they are humans too and experience the same emotions as all others do. And the all-encompassing word for that emotion is said to be depression- that invisible malady which can be triggered by a range of underlying reasons like failed relationships, excessive ambitions, family discord, performance pressure, intense media scrutiny and many more.

Who could have made things better?

The word around is to talk and also to listen. Those who suffer from this heaviness of heart would be simply thinking ‘if it was all so easy’. Some people provide unambiguous symptoms while others keep struggling till they destroy themselves without any recourse. They must have tried to communicate but it is not as uncomplicated as it sounds. To accept our vulnerabilities in front of others is an act of heroism. May be they would have mustered all courage to express themselves but those who heard them were not receptive enough, a trait which most people lack in our support network. Even if they were able to decipher those subtle signals, they would have believed it to be a passing storm which would eventually subside and may be they were not equipped to guide or provide assistance like a therapist or a professional psychiatrist. Thus, the problem is at both the ends, the realisation and its expression, plus its interpretation and further action. 

What lessons do they leave for us?

The first and the foremost lesson is that these people could have done so much being alive. Embracing death has killed all hope for changes, improvements or even miracles. There are examples of people who have made a comeback by fighting-off their self-defeating demons. Second is to speak up to let others know of one’s troubles. Include people who would listen to everything without judging. If they brush off your agony then seek professional help if you can afford to. Next is that if you are reluctant to open up then write down your pain and the possible solutions which can help you to get back on your feet. Nobody is in your shoes so they will not become your saviour. You are your only saviour. Giving words to your emotions either through interaction with others or by penning it down will help you to think aloud rather than fighting it all alone in your head. The action part solely rests on you.

To sum up, all of us define our lives according to our own choices and so do people with stardom. On occasions they too can crumble when their belief in life is to be reinforced either through external assistance or internal labour. And not only do we grieve for the loss of a fine being but also learn that any thorn in the flesh need is not fatal enough to lose hope in existence.