Censoring Suicide Is Not the Answer

Commentary

In history, censorship was justified to ensure a well-ordered and safe society.

In China Han Dynasty leaders burnt manuscripts in order to “protect” scholars against the evil influence of Qin-dynasty literature. In the 15th century, the invention of the printing press not only made books more accessible but also provided additional fuel for censors’ fires.

In 1933, the German government burned 25,000 books in the middle of Munich. Joseph Goebbels claimed that the removal of un-German texts would be good for German youth, as it will encourage a “new spirit”.

Today’s censors are more concerned with race and gender than politics and religion. The most passionate censors are universities, which were once the bastions of intellectual freedom.

According the London Times paper , British universities have removed books from their reading lists in an effort to protect students from “challenging” content.

According to The Times, Miss Julie by August Strindberg was the one that was withdrawn from a course in university literature. Because of its portrayal of suicide, the book was withdrawn. Students may not be able to talk about suicide, so it is unlikely that this will have the exact opposite effect. It could endanger some students’ lives, rather than protecting them.

During my time as Vice-Chancellor of a University in Australia (president), I attended two funerals for students who had taken their lives. These were two too many.

But in some ways, it has been a blessing to have attended so many. Suicide can happen to anyone, regardless of age, race, or gender. Young people, however, are particularly at risk. Suicide is the number one cause of death in Australia among youth.

The Taboo Topic

Suicide is taboo and something that we don’t talk about with polite company. Suicide is often covered up and reported as an accident. We all feel ashamed and guilty when someone we love commits suicide. It is because we believe we could have prevented such behavior; it makes us feel shameful because we did not.

A survivor of suicide holds a house plant in Laguna Niguel, Calif., on Jan. 21, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

We should encourage suicide discussion at universities instead of stopping it. It is important for students to be aware of the signs, and encourage their peers to recognize them. A classmate who is depressed, or makes comments about being unable to be around any longer, or a friend who begins giving up their favorite possessions, and talks about how they want it all over again, can get help from knowledgeable students.

Students should learn to decline to tell their friends about their plans to commit suicide. They must also learn how to tell the difference between saving someone’s lives and turning them in. Students must be taught by universities where and how they can get help for their friends as well as for themselves. It is important that students are able to call an emergency number and institutions should make this information available.

Staff who work at colleges and halls of residence require special training. Staff who work in colleges or halls of residence need special training. They must be able to recognize the warning signs and seek help whenever they are needed. Peer education should be encouraged at universities so that students can discuss suicide together.

It’s impossible to do these things, as books like Miss Julie have been banned.

I realize that not all people are convinced that suicide prevention is a healthy option. It could lead to students having new ideas. While I can understand their fear, it’s time to end the cycle of suicide. Not the solution is censorship. It is time to talk about suicide, and face it head-on. It is time to end the silence surrounding suicide. Education and prevention must be our collective responsibility.

I don’t wish to attend any other memorial services.

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Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.