Why Do I Want to Die?

     A common stereotype attributed to people with suicidal thoughts is that they are just seeking attention, and it is accompanied by the statement, "Well I went through that and I didn't want to kill myself." People react different ways to different situations. A person's reason for wanting to die is important and should be treated with respect. However, contemplating that statement raises an interesting question: Where do suicidal thoughts come from?

     A guide to overcoming stress and adversity from Dartmouth College poses an interesting answer to that question. The guide refers to the ABC model, which offers a Cognitive-Behavioral approach to understanding stress. First developed by Albert Ellis, the ABC model demonstrates how we react to stress and adversity. "A" stands for adversity, "B" stands for belief, and "C" stands for consequence. Our belief about the adversity affects the consequence. For example, if your belief about an event is that it is all your fault, the consequence may be suicidal thoughts.

    Everyone is different, so one person's beliefs and resulting consequences won't always match someone else's. That is why one person may have suicidal thoughts regarding a situation and another person may not.

     So what can be done with this information? If we are able to use the consequence to identify a behavior, we can change the behavior. For example, one person getting fired may believe it is because he or she is incompetent, which may lead to a decrease in self-esteem. Another person may believe he or she got fired due to budget cuts, and that may result in motivation to find a better job.

    Those with suicidal thoughts should always been given the attention they deserve. Their suicidal thoughts may be the result of negative beliefs about themselves. By listening and engaging them in conversation, we can assist in changing those beliefs.

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For more information on the ABC model: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~eap/abcstress2.pdf