Concordia researcher uses the arts to reveal the
cross-cultural implications of suicide
Just over a month ago, a young high school student from
Halifax committed suicide after photos of her being raped were posted on the
Internet. Her story wasn’t just about bullying. It was also about the complex
feelings her friends and family faced with her decision to take her own life.
Such a reaction is common to cultures around the word. New
research from Concordia University shows that, no matter where it occurs, a
veil of shame and sense of taboo surround suicide. These attitudes often force
those affected to grieve alone and can produce feelings of helplessness and
despair.