Why Is Suicide Increasing? – By: Muhammad Saeed
On the morning of May 17, a heartbreaking piece of news shook many hearts. A woman ended her life by jumping into a river. Sadly, this was not the first such incident. In reality, these tragedies are all part of the same painful chain of suffering. Incidents like these are appearing more and more frequently in our society, and each one leaves behind countless unanswered questions. The biggest question is: what is happening to people, especially the younger generation, that they are becoming so hopeless about life that death begins to seem like the only escape?
The painful truth is that such incidents are no longer considered unusual. Almost every day, we hear stories of suicide, depression, emotional exhaustion, and people losing interest in life. Why has humanity, especially young people, started giving up on the precious gift of life so easily? Why does a person begin to believe that death is the only solution to their problems? Why are hopes fading and darkness growing inside hearts?
Everyone needs to understand that no matter how difficult circumstances become, life is never a dead end. After every hardship comes ease, after every night comes a new morning, and behind every trial lies a wisdom known only to Allah. Islam strongly condemns suicide. Human life is a trust from Allah, and taking one’s own life is not only religiously wrong but also a tragedy against humanity itself. However, merely saying “suicide is forbidden” is not enough. What truly matters is understanding the reasons that push a person to such a desperate point.
Today’s youth may appear cheerful and smiling on the outside, but many are completely broken within. Their hearts are fighting silent battles that no one can see. Instead of simply lecturing young people, we need to understand them. We need to listen to them. Unfortunately, discussions about mental health are still considered taboo in our society, even though this silence is destroying countless lives.
There is an urgent need for awareness sessions in schools, colleges, universities, and communities. Young people should be taught how to cope with stress, disappointment, failure, and emotional struggles. Parents should become friends to their children so they feel safe discussing their problems without fear or judgment. We must try to understand what truly causes a person to lose faith in life.
One major reason is love and emotional relationships.
Youth is an emotionally sensitive stage of life. At this age, people naturally seek love, attention, belonging, and emotional support. Unfortunately, many parents fail to understand this reality. Children grow into adults, yet their marriages are unnecessarily delayed, sometimes because of job requirements, financial conditions, housing expectations, or social status. As a result, many young people turn toward secret relationships to fulfill their emotional needs.
At first, such relationships may bring temporary happiness. But when they end in heartbreak, betrayal, rejection, or separation, especially when the person they love marries someone else, it can completely shatter them emotionally. They begin to feel lonely, worthless, and defeated. It is often at this point that thoughts of suicide begin to emerge.
Islam encouraged making marriage simple and accessible, but society has made it unnecessarily difficult. If parents arrange timely marriages for their children, many emotional and psychological problems could be reduced, while immorality, unhealthy relationships, and mental suffering in society would also decrease significantly.
Another major cause is social media and constant comparison.
Today, people spend more time watching other people’s lives than living their own. Social media has pushed everyone into a race where people constantly feel inferior to others. An unemployed young man repeatedly seeing others post about new jobs, new cars, luxurious homes, or achievements begins to feel deprived and left behind. He starts asking himself: “Why don’t I have these things? Why am I behind everyone else?”
If this feeling continues to grow, a person gradually becomes dissatisfied with life itself. They start seeing themselves as failures, even though every individual’s journey is different. Everyone has different timing, circumstances, and destinies.
Unfortunately, social media has turned success into a public display. Someone graduates, they post it immediately. Someone gets married, photos flood social media. Someone buys a car, it becomes an online celebration. Celebrating happiness is not wrong, but turning every blessing into a show can deeply affect the hearts of others.
We must learn that there is beauty in living our successes with humility. Not every joy needs to be displayed before the world.
A third important reason is unrealistic standards of success.
Nowadays, almost everyone has become a motivational speaker. Social media constantly tells people that success only comes if you wake up at 4 a.m., work nonstop day and night, and follow extreme routines. Anyone who cannot live this way is often made to feel like a failure.
But the reality is that no two people are the same. Every person has different abilities, circumstances, mental strengths, and ways of living. The path that works for one person may not work for another. Constantly measuring yourself against standards created by others only leads to mental exhaustion and disappointment.
We need to understand that success is not limited to money, fame, or a prestigious job. A peaceful heart, a content life, meaningful relationships, and mental peace are also forms of success.
If we truly want to stop the growing number of suicides, we must move beyond simply expressing sadness and start taking practical steps. Parents must understand their children’s emotions. Teachers must pay attention to the mental well-being of students. Religious scholars should spread messages of hope and ease. Society must stop judging people and instead become a source of support for them.
Remember: sometimes a gentle tone, a caring question, a sincere friend, or a few loving words can save a person’s life.
Life is one of Allah’s greatest blessings. Difficulties do not last forever, but one wrong decision can end everything permanently. We must build a society where people can speak about their pain without fear, where struggling individuals are not mocked, and where every broken heart is reminded that:
No matter how long the darkest night may be, the dawn always rises.
Muhammad Saeed
Upper Chitral.
