When we talk about suicide, the first question people often ask is “Why did this happen?” The truth is, there is rarely a single, simple reason. Suicide is not the result of one bad day or one unfortunate event. Much like a heart attack, it is the end point of many risk factors coming together over time - mental illness, biological vulnerabilities, personality traits, stressful circumstances. To reduce it to just one cause oversimplifies a very complex human experience.
At its core, suicide is not as much as about wanting to die, but rather about a desire to end unbearable suffering, sometimes that suffering is apparent from an objective appraisal of a person circumstances but many times the emotional suffering as a result of internal mental anguish , mood , and misperceptions.
Emotions of Helplessness and hopelessness are highly correlated with suicidal thoughts.
Distress also causes what is called “cognitive constriction “ - in that state of anguish and hopelessness, the mind narrows, it becomes harder to see options, harder to feel hope, harder to imagine that things can change.
For some, this builds slowly over months or years. For others, it arrives suddenly and impulsively, an inciting event that precipitates an emotional crisis that seems sudden but probably was rumbling under the surface.
In many cases, suicide can be seen as a bad outcome of a preventable condition.
Too often, when we hear of a suicide, people point to one immediate event — a breakup, a job loss, academic stress. But these are rarely the sole cause. It is like blaming a heart attack only on the heavy meal someone ate the night before. That meal may have been the final straw, but the real reasons lie in years of high blood pressure, smoking, genetics, and lifestyle.
Suicide works the same way. The event we see from the outside is just the tipping point. Underneath, there are layers of vulnerability — depression, trauma, impulsivity, stress, social isolation. If we stop at the “why now?” we miss the deeper “why at all?”
Mental Illness and Suicide: A Strong but Complex Link
In the West, studies show that up to 90% of suicides occur in the context of a mental illness, most often depression, bipolar disorder, or substance use. In India and other parts of Asia, the number looks different — closer to 40–50%. This doesn’t mean the rest are unrelated to mental health. It tells us that impulsivity, frustration tolerance, cultural factors, and stress also play a role.
Some people may live with mental illness for years, struggling silently. Others may not meet the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis but still reach a point where hopelessness overwhelms them. Both experiences are real, and both deserve compassion and care.
It also points to the issue of current diagnostic systems and how it is important for mental health practitioners and the profession to evolve culturally relevant diagnostic criteria and interventions.
In the West, studies show that up to 90% of suicides occur in the context of a mental illness, most often depression, bipolar disorder, or substance use. In India and other parts of Asia, the number looks different — closer to 40–50%. This doesn’t mean the rest are unrelated to mental health. It tells us that impulsivity, frustration tolerance, cultural factors, and stress also play a role.
Some people may live with mental illness for years, struggling silently. Others may not meet the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis but still reach a point where hopelessness overwhelms them. Both experiences are real, and both deserve compassion and care.
It also points to the issue of current diagnostic systems and how it is important for mental health practitioners and the profession to evolve culturally relevant diagnostic criteria and interventions.
When we look closely, suicides often fall into two broad patterns.
Suicide prevention requires both long-term treatment of mental illness and short-term strategies like helplines, crisis support, and reducing access to lethal means.
We cannot ignore how our environment affects suicide risk. The world today is faster, more competitive, more isolating. Sleep is disrupted, diets are poorer, community ties are weaker. We are constantly connected through our devices, yet often more lonely than ever.
Technology is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it allows access to information, therapy, and support networks that were unthinkable a generation ago. On the other, it can deepen feelings of disconnection. Social media often fuels comparison, shame, or cyberbullying. Instead of belonging, many young people feel more alienated and unseen.
More recently, reports from the West highlight another trend: young people turning to AI for companionship. While these tools may feel comforting in moments of loneliness, they cannot replace the depth, nuance, and healing that comes from human connection. In some cases, dependence on AI companions has even gone in troubling directions, reinforcing isolation rather than reducing it.
These factors don’t “cause” suicide on their own, but they make us more vulnerable. Just as pollution increases the risk of heart disease, social, technological and cultural stressors increase the risk of mental illness and suicide.
Suicide is often preceded by signals — some subtle, some clear. Look out for:
If you notice these signs:
A suicide affects not just one life, but many. Families are left with grief, confusion, guilt, even anger. Communities are shaken, workplaces feel the loss, classrooms grow quieter. The ripple effects of grief are profound, sometimes lasting years, sometimes shaping an entire generation’s sense of safety.
This is why suicide prevention cannot be seen only as a medical issue. It is, at its heart, a public health priority and a community responsibility.
Families play a vital role. Open conversations about emotions, reducing stigma around seeking help, and creating safe, non-judgmental spaces can make all the difference. Schools and colleges can train teachers to recognize early signs of distress and normalize mental health support. Workplaces can create policies that address burnout, bullying, and isolation, while offering access to counseling and peer-support systems.
Just as CPR training became a public movement that empowered everyday people to save lives during a cardiac arrest, suicide prevention too must become a shared skill — where we learn how to listen, ask the right questions, and connect someone to help.
Suicide is complex. It is not a weakness. It is not selfishness. It is not simply a choice. It is the final pathway of illness, pain, and despair. But it is also preventable.
Every conversation we have, every myth we dismantle, every hand we extend — all of it matters. Just as no one should die of a treatable heart condition, no one should die of the anguish that leads to suicide. With understanding, compassion, and timely action, we can save lives.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or having thoughts of suicide, please know you are not alone. Support is available 24/7, in multiple regional languages.
If you’re outside India, visit findahelpline.com or call your local emergency number.
