Threat For Suicide: A Harassment Normalised

"Stay with me, or I'll die" sounds romantic in movies, but it can turn fatal! How far should this mentality be romanticised in reality? Here is WGM's take.

Human bonds can drive several aspects of life, including growth and success. But relationships that drive dark intentions rooted in innate human nature should never be encouraged. No matter how deeply bonded a person might be with someone, forcing somebody to stay in the pretext of love by threatening suicide is, spilling the tea, a form of mental harassment. Maybe it is deemed to be a vulnerability stemming from the pangs or idea of separation, but it subverts into deep forms of harassment and torture if the other person doesn't want to stay any longer. Yes, it might sound paradoxically unfair, but forcing someone to stay by giving threats of suicide is harassing and victimising the other person. We stumbled upon this story numerous times, and society often perceives the victim as the person who is threatening suicide. But the true victim here is the other person being forcibly made to stay just to ensure the safety of the suicidal person.

WGM recently stumbled upon one of these cases where a man has been continuously threatening to commit suicide to a woman who is not in a relationship with him. The threat was simple: he wanted the woman to accept his proposal because he would rather die without her. It began with loud cries, to self-harm, to rage, and sadly real attempts at suicide. Apparently, the only gesture of showing his true love for the woman. This led to a series of name-calling and serious threats of arrest against the woman by the man's family members.

Whilst the best advice is to reach out to the close ones of the "suicidal person" to extend necessary help, for anyone who is facing a similar situation as this, where you are being forced to accept or stay in a relationship on the pretext of a suicidal threat from the other person, you can seek legal help. If you are worried this might take a dangerous turn, file an Intimation Letter to the Police station about the whole situation. Mention how you are being repeatedly harassed to stay or accept a relationship you do not consent to, with the threat of suicide. And potentially, in case anything happens in future, that you have no influence over it. Lastly, if things turn rather aggressive, you can seek a restraining order from the court by involving a lawyer.

Thoughts of suicide need to be given the necessary help. If you know anyone with such thoughts, ensure you reach out to the loved ones of the person about his/her mental condition. Extend help. But this doesn't necessarily mean you are bound to adjust to and stay in a relationship you are not mentally or emotionally a part of. Thus, it all comes down to consent. And the best advice is to teach our young boys and girls why consent is essential to human relationships.