Suicide: The Wrong Way Home
Disclaimer:
This blog is intended as general information and support. It does not replace medical or psychological advice. Always seek professional care in an emergency.
The Facts
Suicide remains a significant public health concern in Australia, with 3,214 deaths recorded in 2023. This equates to an age-standardised rate of 11.8 per 100,000 people (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2023).
Men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women. It is the leading cause of death in young Australians aged 15–24. The median age at death by suicide is 44 years old, significantly younger than the median age for all other causes of death, which is 82.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are disproportionately affected, with suicide rates nearly double those of non-Indigenous Australians.
This blog aims to provide an informed perspective on how suicide develops, how to better understand its contributing factors, and how Chinese Medicine may play a complementary role in the recovery journey.
Looking for the Stepping Stones
Psychology and neuroscience agree that the ages from birth to around seven are critical in shaping subconscious patterns. Children during these years absorb emotional and environmental cues deeply — a view echoed by researchers like Jean Piaget and modern integrative thinkers such as Dr. Bruce Lipton.
Lipton notes:
“The subconscious mind is most programmable in the first seven years of life when brain activity is predominantly in theta… like a tape recorder capturing the world.” (Bruce Lipton, The Biology of Belief, 2005)
These foundational experiences can influence how we relate to ourselves, others, and life as a whole.
For example, a person who experiences neglect or trauma early in life may carry unspoken beliefs into adulthood — that they are unlovable, unwanted, or unsupported. These internalised views don’t cause suicidal thinking on their own, but they can quietly shape a person’s identity and resilience.
When someone reaches the point of suicidal ideation or action, it’s rarely due to a single event. It’s usually a cluster of challenges layered over time: personal trauma, identity struggles, substance use, unresolved grief, physical or mental health crises, spiritual confusion, displacement, financial breakdown, or emotional overload. Any of these alone are difficult — together, they can feel insurmountable.
Understanding suicide means recognising these stepping stones. What may appear as a sudden or senseless act is often preceded by a trail of pain and disconnection.
We may not be able to prevent every suicide, but we can deepen our understanding. And from that, we can offer more meaningful support — earlier.
The Ripples of Suicide
When someone dies by suicide, the impact moves far beyond the individual. It reaches family, friends, colleagues, and community — sometimes across generations.
Most people who consider suicide underestimate how much they matter to others. If they could see the full ripple effect of their absence, many might pause. But in that state of overwhelm or collapse, perspective is often the first thing to go.
It’s hard to find positives in suicide — and we shouldn’t try to justify or glorify it. But what about recovery? The comeback after an attempt can be profound. For some, it becomes a turning point. A reset. An unexpected path to strength, humility, and clarity.
The Bigger Picture
In clinical work and life experience, it’s rare to meet someone who has attempted suicide without a long backstory of pain. These are not “weak” people. These are often strong individuals who have endured more than most and simply hit a point of exhaustion.
For some young people, especially, suicide can feel like the only exit when their inner world is too intense and external options seem limited. They may not yet have had time or guidance to navigate that pain differently.
That’s why suicide is so significant in youth mental health — not because youth is inherently unstable, but because the early identity layers are still being formed, and support at that time matters immensely.
Time, perspective, and good help can rewire this path.
A Chinese Medicine View
Chinese Medicine links mental and emotional health with the five Zang Fu organ systems — Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lungs, and Kidneys — each representing physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of life.
For example, disharmony in the Lung system may manifest as grief, detachment, or a struggle to feel “here” in the world. The Kidneys, associated with willpower and fear, play a critical role in grounding someone through uncertainty. The Heart, often involved in insomnia, panic, or disconnection, is central to emotional clarity.
Sometimes we see young people who don’t fit easily into the modern mould. Creative thinkers. Deep feelers. People with spiritual perception that doesn’t match the culture they live in. Chinese Medicine allows space for that difference, offering treatments that regulate the body and support the mind without suppressing the person’s individuality.
In the clinical writings of Miriam Lee — a pioneer of acupuncture in the West — a powerful case is documented where a patient experiencing suicidal ideation responded significantly to acupuncture focused on the Lung channel. In Chinese Medicine, the Lungs are associated not only with breath and boundary, but with the *Po* — the corporal soul — which relates to presence, embodiment, and the will to live. While this account is anecdotal and not presented as evidence of treatment efficacy, it raises an interesting reflection: could there be a link between Lung system disharmony and the loss of will or orientation in life? Formal research exploring the relationship between respiratory health, emotional regulation, and suicidality could offer valuable insights in both biomedical and holistic contexts.
Source: Miriam Lee, *Insights of a Senior Acupuncturist*, Blue Poppy Press, 1992.
Drugs, Disconnection & Complexity
Drug use can amplify existing mental health struggles. While some substances may offer momentary relief or escape, they often deplete long-term emotional reserves. Prolonged use can alter self-perception, increase hopelessness, and disrupt physical and spiritual balance.
For someone already on the edge, this can accelerate downward spirals.
Spiritual disconnection is another common theme — especially in those who don’t resonate with mainstream belief systems. They may feel like outsiders in their own culture. Some describe a sense of being “from somewhere else,” disconnected from nature, faith, or community.
Recognising this can be healing. We don’t always need to pull someone “back to reality” — sometimes we need to honour their deeper truths and help them reintegrate meaningfully.
Suicide: The Wrong Way Home
It’s a bold statement — but suicide is never the right way home.
Whatever someone is longing for — peace, freedom, stillness, relief — Chinese Medicine and holistic health approaches believe it is more accessible here, in this life, in this body, even if it takes time to find.
There is no shame in struggling. Many people quietly fight suicidal thoughts without ever sharing them. But when support is found — the right practitioner, the right community, the right moment of understanding — it can change everything.
If you are feeling lost, the way back may start with something as simple as breathwork, bodywork, herbs, or conversation. These are humble but profound acts of healing.
If You Need Help
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, support is available:
– Lifeline: 13 11 14 — http://www.lifeline.org.au
– Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
– Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
– 13YARN: 13 92 76 — Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
References
– Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2023). Causes of Death, Australia — https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/causes-death-australia/latest-release
– Lipton, B. (2005). The Biology of Belief.
– Lee, M. (1992). Insights of a Senior Acupuncturist. Blue Poppy Press.
Luke Paten – Bodhi Health Acupuncture / Sunshine Coast
