The way out or Suicidal ideation
“The thought of suicide is a great consolation: by means of it one gets through many a dark night.” ? Friedrich Nietzsche. The best compliment to an artist contemplating on such a delicate topic as suicide is to hear “I have been there” commentary from his viewers. It means that the snapshot of an idea has been successful. There’s nothing personal in this image as I was merely trying to reflect someone else’s feelings.
Ideation is a process of generating and conveying ideas. I have chosen the term suicidal ideation because it is very frequently used to describe a passive or active tendency of a person to commit suicide. Suicidal thoughts might range from a deeply hidden lingering intention to end one’s life to a solid active plan. Most people who have suicidal ideation or tendencies will be only playing with this idea and not trying to follow through with it; some will make ineffective attempts; others will make false attempts – at parasuicide - to draw attention to themselves deliberately with no real intention of dying. In any case, suicidal ideation is a symptom of a serious psychiatric disorder that sometimes requires immediate medical attention. Statistics shows that males are four times more likely to die from an actual suicide, while females are more likely to attempt suicide.
None of the existing religious teachings accept suicide as a possible choice for a person in an emotional or circumstantial blind alley. In Christianity suicide is considered a mortal sin. In Buddhism suicide is a fruitless act providing neither relief nor solution to a sufferer. With the Buddhist concept of rebirth in mind, one can deduct that killing oneself will only leave facing the problems until a later incarnation. Furthermore, taking life is prohibited by the first of the Five Precepts with no exception to the rule. Thus, suicide will only aggravate a difficult situation as it is and impose evil karma on the culprit.
Viewer Testimonial:
"My name is Chaitanya Pabbati. I am a 4th year medical student and will be pursuing a psychiatry residency. Your piece "The Way Out or Suicidal Ideation" has been very helpful to my education. During medical school I have focused my research on studying suicide as a psychiatric illness. I have had the privilege of giving various talks to my classmates and colleagues and have often shown and cited this piece as an excellent encapsulation of the suicidal patient. It so simply but profoundly captures the goals of a patient who feels that there is no other option for them but to take their own life. I would like to thank you for creating your art. While you are certainly a non-traditional artist in both your imagery and your medium, you have undoubtedly ushered in a new era for artists. I hope that my career as a physician will be distinguished by similar achievement."
(Title Rus) Выход или Размышления о Суициде
Software media: Adobe Photoshop ®, Adobe Illustrator ®, Autodesk 3ds Max ®, Smith Micro Poser ®, Photo Stock, CorelDRAW Graphics ®,
George Grie, November 2007
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The way out or Suicidal ideation | metaphorical surreality