Did Superman Prevent Suicide?

In this blog, we will discuss Superman preventing suicide, who is superman, prevention of suicide by superman, suicidal ideation, and also answer frequently asked questions.

Did Superman Prevent Suicide?

Yes, superman has prevented the suicide attempt of a girl in the comics during a time when he is himself going through a lot. He gives them a sense of hope and asks them to view things a little differently as things aren’t as bad as they appear to be to us. 

We will explore the time when suicide prevented suicide in detail in the later section of the blog. 

Superman and his popularity 

Faster than a shooting bullet, more powerful than a train. The Man of Steel fights the most difficult battle for truth, justice, and the American way. 

Superman is one of the most instantly identifiable and beloved DC Super Heroes of all time, with his blue outfit, flowing crimson cape, and “S ” shield on his chest. The Man of Steel is the epitome of justice, honesty, and optimism. He is the world’s first SuperHero and a beacon of hope for everyone.

Superman has spent the previous eighty years redefining what it means to stand for truth, justice, and the American way as the spearhead of a revolution that would reshape the landscape of pop culture. 

Superman is a legend as well as a man: he is the epitome of heroism, compassion, and accountability. Superman is a legend as well as a man, having been born on the destroyed planet Krypton and nurtured in the calm heartland of Smallville, Kansas. He is the gold standard of courage, compassion, and responsibility.

Despite the fact that his abilities make him godlike in comparison to his human counterparts, Superman’s story is not one of avarice or conquest. Instead, he aspires to embody the human spirit’s innate goodness, as well as the ability of all living things to do the right thing by their neighbors.

Who is superman?

Superman is a fictional superhero created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster for DC Comics. The first appearance of Superman was in Action Comics #1. (June 1938).

The origin of Superman is arguably one of the most well-known stories in comic book history. Indeed, writer Grant Morrison and illustrator Frank Quitely skillfully tackle the key topics in All-Star Superman no. 1 (2005) with just four panels and eight words. Jor-El and Lara, scientists on the doomed planet Krypton, load their young son Kal-El aboard a rocket destined for Earth. Martha and Jonathan Kent, a gentle couple from the mid-American town of Smallville, discover him.

Clark is the boy’s name, and they nurture him as their own. Clark possesses a set of superhuman abilities as a child, including invulnerability, immense strength, the ability to leap great distances, and super speed, all of which would eventually become the characteristics of his alter identity, Superman, the “Man of Steel.”

When Superman prevented suicide

Superman is dying from solar radiation and wandering the world in “All-Star Superman” #10, written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Lee Quigley.

When the Man of Steel is exposed to an enormous amount of solar radiation, he discovers that he only has a limited amount of time left. Because he’s Superman, he deals with imminent doom the way any great aspirational person in fiction would: by doing as much good for the world as superhumanly possible.

This mission manifests itself in a variety of ways. One of the first things he does is reveal his true identity to Lois Lane, and they spend a lovely day together while she is momentarily given with superpowers (Lois and Clark had already been canonically married for over a decade at the time of publication, but All-Star exists within its own separate continuity). 

He travels to Bizarro’s homeworld and aids “Zibarro,” a Bizarro-Bizarro. Throughout it all, Superman is seen assisting ordinary people whenever possible.

Readers figure out who the woman was on the phone with after five pages. A distraught teen girl drops her phone from the ledge of a towering building and watches it fall. In resignation, she clasps her hands and shuts her eyes. 

She’s clearly about to commit herself by hurling herself on the ground. Superman, on the other hand, arrives from behind and places his hand on her shoulder.

“Your doctor really did get held up, Regan,” he says. Her eyes enlarged. “Nothing is ever as horrible as it appears.” She moves her gaze to him. He tells her, “You’re so much stronger than you think you are.” “Believe  me.” She wraps her arms around him.

We never saw her after that. Readers and Superman were unfamiliar with Regan. Superman had the ability to travel anywhere in the globe and do anything he pleased. Despite this, he chose to put everything on hold in order to save a single life. 

He went above and beyond to save her. Even as he was dying, and despite the fact that there were innumerable more important things going on in the world, he took a moment to console her.

He observes a mob gathered under a skyscraper and a woman standing on a ledge in “Superman: Grounded,” written by J. Michael Straczynski and illustrated by J.P. Mayer. The cops ask him to fly up and retrieve her, but he declines and says he’ll go talk to her instead.

He appears to be repeating the weary phrase “it’s not so awful,” but the girl, Felicity Rose, shouts at him, accusing him of trying to deceive her. She makes him promise that if she leaps, he would not try to stop her.

Superman tells her of a woman he knew who was dying of cancer and committed suicide. He stated that he didn’t agree, but that he understood. “But if you think there’s even a remote chance that there might be one more pleasant day out there,” he continues, “then grab my hand.”

She takes a step forward and falls into the arms of Superman.

“I cried for hours after reading this,” one Reddit member said after reading these lines. I felt so strongly about that girl, and I could almost hear Superman telling me that I’m stronger than I believe. 

Now, whenever my despair rears its ugly head, all I have to do is repeat his words and visualize him hugging me as I stand on the precipice. It outperforms any medicine or therapy I’ve ever tried.”

Suicidal ideation among youth

The majority of youths interviewed after attempting suicide said they attempted it to gain relief from a situation that seemed tough to deal with or to escape from particularly awful thoughts or sensations. 

They didn’t care about dying as much as they did about getting away from what was going on. And at the time, it felt as though death was the only option.

Some people commit suicide or attempt suicide to get rid of feelings of rejection, hurt, or loss. Others may be enraged, ashamed, or guilty as a result of something. Some people are concerned about disappointing their friends or family. Others may feel unwelcomed, unloved, victimized, or as if they are a burden to others.

We’ve all felt helpless in the face of terrible emotions or situations. However, the majority of people either get through it or are able to put their troubles into perspective and find a way to keep moving forward with drive and hope. 

So, why does one individual attempt suicide while another in a similar scenario does not? What makes some people more resilient than others (i.e., the ability to bounce back from life’s ups and downs)? What makes a person see no other option than to end their life in a difficult situation?

The majority of individuals who commit suicide suffer from depression, which provides the answer to those queries.

People who are depressed tend to focus on their failures and disappointments, to stress the bad aspects of their circumstances, and to minimize their own strengths and worth. Someone suffering from severe depression cannot envision a positive outcome and may believe they will never be happy or that things will never go their way again.

If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.

WHO and their initiative on suicide prevention

Suicides can be avoided. To prevent suicide and suicide attempts, a variety of strategies can be implemented at the population, sub-population, and individual levels. WHO has taken an approach to suicide prevention, LIVE LIFE, suggests the following essential evidence-based interventions:

restrict access to suicide-inducing substances (e.g., insecticides, weapons, and some drugs);

collaborate with the media to ensure that suicide is properly reported;

Adolescents’ socio-emotional life skills should be cultivated;

Anyone affected by suicidal behavior should be identified, assessed, managed, and followed up on as soon as possible.

Conclusion 

We discussed who Superman is, the time when Superman prevented suicide, suicidal ideation in youth, and WHO’s initiative on suicide prevention. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs): Did Superman Prevent Suicide?

What is the definition of suicide?

Suicide occurs when people intentionally damage themselves in order to end their lives and die as a result.

Suicide attempts occur when people intentionally damage themselves in the hopes of terminating their lives, but they do not die.

When discussing suicide and suicide attempts, avoid using terminology like “committing suicide,” “successful suicide,” or “failed suicide,” as these terms often have negative connotations.

Who is at risk of self-harm?

Suicide can affect people of all genders, ages, and races.

The following are the primary suicide risk factors:

  • Suicide attempts in the past
  • Depression, other mental illnesses, or a substance abuse problem are all possibilities.
  • Pain that lasts a long time
  • There is a family history of mental illness or substance abuse.
  • Suicide has a history in your family.
  • Family violence, such as physical or sexual abuse, is a risk factor.
  • Easy access to guns or other weaponry
  • Following a recent release from prison or jail
  • Suicide conduct of others, such as that of family members, peers, or celebrities, is exposed, either directly or indirectly.

What are the indications of suicide?

The following are warning indicators that someone may be on the verge of attempting suicide:

  • Those who express a desire to die or commit suicide.
  • Talking about feeling empty, hopeless, or as if there is no reason to live Talking about feeling stuck or as if there are no answers
  • You’re in excruciating mental or bodily anguish.
  • When we talk about being a burden to others, we’re talking about being a burden to ourselves.
  • Withdrawing from friends and relatives
  • Giving precious possessions away

Is it true that questioning someone about suicide makes them consider it?

No. Suicidal thoughts and acts are not caused or increased by questioning people about them, according to studies. “Are you thinking of killing yourself?” is a direct question that can help identify someone who is suicidal.

Do people make ‘suicide threats’ to seek attention?

Suicidal thoughts or behaviors are a symptom of severe suffering and a signal that someone requires assistance. It’s not common to talk about wanting to commit suicide in response to stress. Suicide should be treated seriously at all times and requires quick care.

Do certain persons have a higher risk of suicide than others?

Women are more likely than males to attempt suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although men are more likely to die by suicide. This could be because men are more likely to try suicide with a firearm or by suffocation (e.g., hanging), whereas women are more likely to try suicide by poisoning, such as overdosing on prescribed or nonprescribed pharmaceutical medicines. 

References

https://www.comicsbeat.com/dc-round-up-how-one-page-from-all-star-superman-saved-my-life/

http://www.thegeektwins.com/2018/09/three-inspiring-times-superman-saved.html

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Superman-fictional-character
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Metropolis-film-1927
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Superman-fictional-character/The-Man-of-Steel-in-the-Golden-Age
https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-faq

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