Lagos Lagoon, The Evil Called Depression & Souls That Perish

Reactions has continued to trail the shocking story of the Medical doctor identified as Dr Allwell Orji, who in a tragic incident jumped to his death at the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos.  It was gathered that he received a call, stopped, dashed out of his car, and jumped into the Lagoon where he drowned. All efforts to save his life proved abortive. This ugly incident happened around 4pm on Sunday while he was returning from church service. It was a clear case of suicide.

Suicide is mostly linked to DEPRESSION. 

It all began when Dr. Orji asked his driver to stop after he allegedly received a call. According to eyewitness report, he first walked to the railings on the bridge and jumped into the lagoon.

An Instagram user, who claimed to be an eyewitness, recounted the ugly incident as it happened;

“I witnessed the worst thing ever today! The owner of this particular vehicle jumped into the lagoon right in front of me! I saw him get out of his car; then jumped. I was directly behind him. I parked and ran as fast as my legs could carry me, but it was too late. I wish he had waited a little longer, I wish I was able to stop him, I wish I was about to hold his hands, I wish he could tell me what the problem was!

“I’m still in shock, I couldn’t control my tears. I ran after him, I tried to save him, I called for help….Loads of people stopped because they saw me acting like a crazy woman, the ambulance was present, the fishermen were trying to help, but it was too late! He left a note on his personalised doctor’s notepad with his house address,” the user wrote.

Shockingly, a similar episode was reported just few hours apart on the same day; a similar story but this time it involved a woman.

There was also a case of an unidentified woman who jumped into the lagoon at Maza-Maza Bridge in the Mile 2 area of Lagos. The difference in her case was that she was successfully rescued after jumping.

Eyewitness narrated the incident:

“The thing happened so fast that we could not stop her. However, when she jumped, we called for help, prompting people under the bridge to dive in and rescue her,” 

“We were under the bridge, when suddenly the woman’s body dropped from the bridge. At first, we thought she was either pushed over or fell over by mistake. We had to jump into the river and went for her. That was how we rescued her.”

These kind of crazy stories are becoming re-current of late. People taking their own lives are becoming a clear case of 'one too many'.

A major cause of suicide is mental illness, very commonly DEPRESSION. People feeling suicidal are overwhelmed by painful emotions and see death as the only way out, losing sight of the fact that suicide is a permanent "solution" to a temporary state -most people who try to kill themselves but live later say they are glad they didn't die. Most people who die by suicide could have been helped.

Study has shown that people try to kill themselves (commit suicide) for six reasons:

1. They are depressed

This is without question the most common reason people commit suicide. Severe depression is always accompanied by a pervasive sense of suffering as well as the belief that escape from it is hopeless. The pain of existence often becomes too much for severely depressed people to bear. The state of depression warps their thinking, allowing ideas like “Everyone would all be better off without me” to make rational sense. They shouldn’t be blamed for falling prey to such distorted thoughts any more than a heart patient should be blamed for experiencing chest pain: it’s simply the nature of their disease.

Because depression, as we all know, is almost always treatable, we should all seek to recognize its presence in our close friends and loved ones. Often people suffer with it silently, planning suicide without anyone ever knowing.

2. They are psychotic:

Malevolent inner voices often command self-destruction for unintelligible reasons. Psychosis is much harder to mask than depression and arguably even more tragic. Schizophrenics are just as likely to talk freely about the voices commanding them to kill themselves as not, and also, in my experience, give honest answers about thoughts of suicide when asked directly. Psychosis, too, is treatable and usually must be for a schizophrenic to be able to function at all.

3. They are impulsive

Often related to drugs and alcohol, some people become maudlin and impulsively attempt to end their own lives. Once sobered and calmed, these people usually feel emphatically ashamed. The remorse is usually genuine, and whether or not they’ll ever attempt suicide again is unpredictable. They may try it again the very next time they become drunk or high, or never again in their lifetime.

4. They are crying out for help and don’t know how else to get it

These people don’t usually want to die but do want to alert those around them that something is seriously wrong. They often don’t believe they will die, frequently choosing methods they don’t think can kill them in order to strike out at someone who’s hurt them but are sometimes tragically misinformed.

5. They have a philosophical desire to die

 The decision to commit suicide for some is based on a reasoned decision often motivated by the presence of a painful terminal illness from which little to no hope of reprieve exists. These people aren’t depressed, psychotic, maudlin, or crying out for help. They’re trying to take control of their destiny and alleviate their own suffering, which usually can only be done in death. They often look at their choice to commit suicide as a way to shorten a dying that will happen regardless.

6. They have made a mistake:

This is a recent, tragic phenomenon in which typically young people flirt with oxygen deprivation for the high it brings and simply go too far. The only defense against this, it seems to me, is education.

According to statistics, up to 15% of those who are clinically depressed die by suicide. Very bad...You can agree with me. Now, here is a point to lay hold of--depressed people are everywhere. Clothes and facades shields it all.

Recall, the medical doctor who recently jumped into the lagoon had an SUV and was probably successful as a physician but then he chose to take his own life in a very sad way.

Yeah...we know many attributed his death and that of others alike to the current economic recession ravaging the country but then the truth is that there is massive 'lack of love' in the world as it is today. The love of money and fame has finally relegated that innocent and concerted interest in the affairs of others.

You never can tell what the next person closest to you is going through. What he or she is battling with. Pay no much premium on the glitz and glamour as you would always see flaunted on the social media. It helps to listen in a way that shows you care and empathize. A simple 'smile' could go a long way guys!

Lets make the world a better place
A more conducive place to dwell for us all
Let love lead.