Mike, the maintenance man of the Peaceful Palace hotel, was starting his usual Wednesday shift the third week of March 2017. As he was opening the blinds in the main lounge, he heard something strange. In a distressed voice, he heard a faint moaning. Worried, he quickly raced to the source. What he found left him disturbed for days afterwards.
Three guests, three completely different individuals, had tragically decided to end their own lives in that one hotel, in that one day. The first had died from alcohol poisoning, with an empty pill bottle by his side. His neighbours reported him saying "I just can't take it anymore".
The second one had committed suicide because of a failed relationship. On his night stand was a picture of him and his beloved boyfriend, which they had taken not more than a few days before.
The third, a young girl in her early twenties, had left behind a handwritten letter stating she couldn't go on living with the pain she felt. According to the note, her troubles had started the night before.
On a Wednesday the third week in March had indeed been Suicide Day at the Peaceful Palace hotel. It was an unfortunate and gloomy occurrence that made Mike regret why he had chosen this job.
After much reflection, I came up with that suicide is an immensely complex issue and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. We must each choose a unique approach to healing our mental and emotional wounds in order to reduce the tragedy of suicide. It is important that we recognize the struggles faced by individuals suffering from suicidal thoughts and find a compassionate, effective way to support them in their journey to a happier, healthier life.