ShadowOfTheDay
Hungry Ghost
- Feb 14, 2019
- 331
I just finished watching the 2018 version of "A Star Is Born," with Lady Gaga. It was a terrific movie. My aunt rented the movie, not knowing anything about the plot, but very aware of my past suicide attempts.
Near the end of the film, one of the characters commits suicide. At this point, my aunt abruptly turns off the movie and exclaims, "This is bullshit! I'm so sorry. I didn't know this would happen, or I never would have got this movie."
It seems, from her perspective, that any exposure to suicide or the thought of suicide could be a potential "trigger" for someone with my history.
Granted, some people who die by suicide are influenced by its portrayal in popular culture. But what so many people don't understand is that, for those of us who think about death and dying all the time, the "censorship" of suicide is not at all helpful. Treating suicidal thoughts and behaviours as "aberrations" only serves to make people like us feel more isolated, maladaptive and mentally deranged.
Near the end of the film, one of the characters commits suicide. At this point, my aunt abruptly turns off the movie and exclaims, "This is bullshit! I'm so sorry. I didn't know this would happen, or I never would have got this movie."
It seems, from her perspective, that any exposure to suicide or the thought of suicide could be a potential "trigger" for someone with my history.
Granted, some people who die by suicide are influenced by its portrayal in popular culture. But what so many people don't understand is that, for those of us who think about death and dying all the time, the "censorship" of suicide is not at all helpful. Treating suicidal thoughts and behaviours as "aberrations" only serves to make people like us feel more isolated, maladaptive and mentally deranged.