Suicide is unique to the human race. What drives it?

With all the woes and worries of the world, from wars to our attempts to voluntarily euthanise the planet, it’s little wonder we’re so depressed.

Portrait of a man in dark room. Depression concept.

The most famous intro in music? The eight notes that begin Beethoven’s 5th. Da-da-de-dum, da-da-de-dum. The most famous words in drama? The six short ones that begin Hamlet’s soliloquy. “To be or not to be?” His speculations on the merits of suicide. Echoed centuries later by the existentialist writer Albert Camus – for whom suicide was the one really serious philosophical question.

Officially over 3,000 Australians choose not to be each year, though the figure is certainly higher. When cars mysteriously stall on train tracks, hit trees or have head-on collisions on straight roads, some coroners declare an “open verdict” to spare families more pain. Add in some “accidental overdoses”, too.

We have a suicide epidemic among young Aboriginal boys, including deaths in custody, and another with traumatised soldiers, and another with farmers. Years ago, researching a film on suicide, I learned that five times as many women attempt it as men, but five times as many men succeed. Women’s attempts are often deemed cries for help and involve methods that don’t disfigure – whereas men are more emphatic, preferring cars or firearms.

I learned there were peak periods for suicides. Young women after failed love affairs. Men in their thirties when they realise they’re failing in their ambitions. Businessmen who’ve succeeded in theirs, only to find that in retirement they’ve little to live for.

The very ill? Not so much. Most cling to life, though recently more have exercised the option of voluntary euthanasia – which is the one form of suicide I endorse, having supported the choice of a number of friends.

I was once in a traffic jam on Sydney Harbour Bridge caused by a would-be jumper. There was lots of impatient tooting, but at least no cries of “Jump!” as has been heard from crowds in New York. Thankfully, he was talked down – but had he jumped it would not have been reported as such. An unwritten law in media. Suicide is notorious for encouraging others.

Since I made my film on suicide, mental health issues have been better understood and less stigmatised, and are more treatable by the talking cure of psychiatry (of which my daughter, Dr Rebecca, is a distinguished practitioner) and drugs. Behold the popularity of antidepressants. With all the woes and worries of the world, from wars to our attempts to voluntarily euthanise the planet, it’s little wonder we’re so depressed.

The gift of life can come at a high price, and it can be a veil of tears. But our existence – as a species, and as individuals – is so unlikely and miraculous. At the very best, life is brief, and the alternative of death is so very long. (Spoiler alert: it goes on forever) . So let’s leave the last words to the mordantly witty Dorothy Parker, who, having come close to exercising the “not to be” option, wrote these immortal words...

Razors pain you

Rivers are damp

Acids stain you

Drugs cause cramp

Guns aren’t lawful

Nooses give

Gas smells awful

Might as well live

Lifeline 13 11 14; beyondblue.org.au