Saving Lives and Fostering Hope: The Duty to Prevent Suicide
Suicide is a pressing global issue, and it raises a challenging moral question: do we have a duty to prevent suicide? While personal autonomy and individual choice are important values, the overwhelming consensus suggests that we do indeed have a moral obligation to take action and avoid suicide. One compelling reason for our duty to prevent suicide is rooted in the fundamental human desire to alleviate suffering. People who contemplate suicide are often in tremendous pain, whether due to mental health issues, unbearable circumstances, or a sense of hopelessness. As compassionate beings, our ethical responsibility is to help alleviate this suffering and support those in crisis.