Depression is actually a very common phrase of life, could be
due to stress, grief or some sort of unexplainable phobia. But by
and large, everyone will experience depression to some degree at
certain stage in their life. My father for one, suffers mild
clinical depression and was put on medication for a while.
If depression is unavoidable, then it is important that we learn to
deal with it. Medication is a form of help, but more importantly
the person who is depressed must learn to look on the brighter side
of life. As family, we should encourage and bring the depressed out
door more often to appreciate life.
I guess at this point in time, people are saying that, "hey, its
easy to say so when you don't have unpaid bills building up in our
closest." But in the case of Tan, he was not deprieved of means to
assist him, he had received help and is reasonably confident that
he can receive it again if he ask. His situation may not be
desirable, but it is far from being desperate as his debts run only
till about $1000 +.
As an individual, he was also perhaps not proficient in financial
planning. My father inherited a family full of debts when my
grandfather committed suicide after owing lots to loan sharks due
to gambling problem. I was then three and it was common for loan
sharks to turn come knocking every now and then. My father got a
help from our relatives but there was also not a lot they can do as
my family clan was "on the wrong side of politics" for a while and
some of my relatives will "disappear" for years before appearing
out of no where. Under such bleak circumstance, my father quit uni
and took a job. With financial planning, we were able to repay the
debts both to loan sharks and to our relatives within a few years.
My family has now a middle class income and is able to support me
in oversea study.
One of my uncle was a carpenter with a monthly income of 800 plus.
Although that was more than 20 years ago, his income never rose
beyond 1,500. But with planning, he is not only able to bring up
his three children but also see all of them tru NUS.
Life is difficult and full of challenge. It was, is and will be.
While the government and society can prepare "safety nets" to offer
assistance, it is largely due to individuals and their family to
stick together and face the challenges. Suicide is not a method of
meeting life's challenge, it is an irresponsible action to quit
life and abandon all those who places trust and faith upon him.
