My essential question is “How does suicide harm the society?”

Suicide is a person killing himself or death caused by injuring himself. Suicide is a big issue in global community. People kill themselves in diverse reasons. The risk factors of suicide are mental illnesss such as depression or eating disorders, chronicle pain; physical disability, drug or alcohol abuse, and bullying. In the article, ‘Suicide - family and friends,’ it tells “People living in rural and remote areas, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people also have a higher rate of suicide”(3). In the book, “My Antonia,” Mr. Shimerda killed himself due to his depression that he was homesick and felt like a failure(Cather 61).

Suicide is a large and growing public health problem. Not only suicide affect the person who commited suicide, but also, suicide affect people who were around the person who died. In the article, Sucide- Familiy and Friends, it shows “Family and frieds describe the grief felt after a suicide as different to that felt after other bereavements”(4). The main feeling that people, relatives of the person who commited suicide, is guilt. They feel guilt because they are regreting about why they did not take care of the person. Besides feeling guilt, people feel helplessness, restlessness, increased tiredness or insomnia. In the novel, Shimerda’s family were feeling they are alone and they are mostly crying all day(Cather 72).

When people want to kill themselve because there are lots of things or people to ask for helps. There are government institutions to get help and friends to ask for help. Government is creating protective environments. There are reducing access to lethal means among persons at risk of suicide and organize policies and cultures. In the article, Preventing Suicide, it says “Suicide attempts cost the nation almost $70 billion per year in lifetime medical and work-loss costs alone” (7). Government is always there to procect people. Also, people will help the person who is feeling sad and wants to commit suicide. In the book, before Mr.Shimerda dies, he did not ask for help. He could have ask someone to help(Cather 64-65).

Appromately 800,000 people died by committing suicide. It means lots of people are having mental illness or physical disorder. The article, Suicide Rates are Excalating, says “Suicide has become the 2nd leading cause of death in for those 15 to 24 years”(1). People should not think they have to die when they are depressed or think themselves that they are not valuable. They should ask others to help because they are also harming others’ feeling. In the novel, Jelinek was confused how to bury Mr.Shimerda. Jelinek and Mr.Shimerda’s family was panic and sad(Cather 71).