The story of Café Coffee day owner VG Siddhartha is a reminder that the seemingly rich and successful can also fall prey to stress and depression if not addressed on time. If only he had sought external help at the right time, his life could have been saved. In situations like these, it is very important to go for counselling, medical treatment and unburden oneself. In my opinion, no distinctive or pecuniary quandary on earth is big enough to claim a life. Everything can be resolved with a cool mind, provided one shares and seeks help at the right time.
It was very easy for me to make the above statement. But have we ever thought about what goes on in the mind of the victim? While reading his publicly available letter, I could sense how alone he felt in a room full of people. A man living amongst so many employees, family members and friends was lonely? That is the incongruity. He did not share his doings with anyone. Had he shared on time, the story could have been completely different.
My own colleague with whom I had worked for fourteen years never gave me a hint that he suffered from depression. He had been out with his family to watch a movie and upon return hanged himself to death. I had always found him very approachable; but he refused to open himself neither to his friends, colleagues nor his family let alone seek professional help. Again a paradox!
Every suicide is a catastrophe and to some degree a conundrum. In both the above cases, the victims were surrounded by friends, colleagues and relatives yet they felt hopeless. Both were financially well off. But the inability to face and cope with challenging life circumstances made them feel that suicide was the only solution to all their problems. Sadly, we all know this is not true.
In an interesting study of suicides, it has been observed that women are more vulnerable than men to attempt suicide while men as compared to women are more prone to complete the act.
Please understand suicide is not a solution. On a spiritual level, on how suicide affects Karma, Nuno Alves says if the circumstances in our current lives become unbearable, to exit it should not be at all a last resort to end suffering. Life is an experience that is meant to be solvable, healed. It always contains solutions to its own problems, even if they can’t be seen right away. For this reason, sometimes situations could have become easier, solutions could have been discovered, life could have grown out of the difficulty.
From a Karmic perspective, our ancient religious scriptures have condemned suicide. The journey of the soul post a suicide is painful and full of sufferings. Life is given by kismet, and only destiny is supposed to control it. If we take the plug into our hands, the consequences thereafter are only for us to face, say the scriptures.
Hence, seek immediate help when you feel that there is a suicidal tendency in you. Such an instinct is not only an immediate threat to life; may also a big threat to one’s existing Karmic balance. Reach out and seek help so that you don’t fall a victim to this indisposition.
VG Siddhartha’s demise is a devastating end to a diligent, industrious and commendable business tycoon who gave employment and made the lives of so many common folks. He left us prematurely. May his soul rest in peace. I pray to the All-Mighty for his family and near and dear ones to be strong enough to overcome the dreadful loss.
The author is a practising Counsellor and her essay on mental health was published in the anthology, A Book of Light, edited by Jerry Pinto (for Speaking Tiger Books, 2016).