How Did Clarissa Dalloway Overcome Suicide

As of 1999, “suicide prevention programs, medical treatment via antidepressants, and psychotherapy may have promising results, it is difficult to distinguish if these national suicide prevention strategies are effective” (D’orio 133). In order to elaborate and implement comprehensive suicide prevention policies, new funding is essential. The deficiency in evaluation research is the single most important obstacle that needs to be overcome because more needs to be understood about suicide. Research is imperative to establish efficient prevention programs and pull the plug on those programs that are incompetent. Just like research, funding for public mental health amenities, increasing entry way to privately funded services, and creating campaigns …show more content…
Stated in the book: “She felt somehow very like him—the young man who had killed himself. She felt glad that he had done it; thrown it away” (Woolf 186). On the surface, Clarissa may seem to be leading a flawless and normal life, but on the inside, she’s constantly questioning her current life. Clarissa indeed loves life, but internally, she will never be able to accept her life. Clarissa identifies with Septimus for taking the plunge she would never be able to do and for not surrendering his happiness to society. He is a foreigner, but in terms of social conformity, rather than national identity. In a way, Clarissa is an ideal example of Sigmund Freud’s theory of melancholia. Mrs. Dalloway continues tormenting herself by living the life she’s stuck in, rather than striving for her own genuine …show more content…
Dalloway: “Oh, Mrs. Dalloway … always giving parties to cover the silence” (The Hours). This moment hints at the parallel between Clarissa Dalloway and Clarissa Vaughn because they both bore the same name and lifestyle. Also, this insinuates that Clarissa only throws parties as an attempt to hide from the insignificance of her life. Richard is only entertained, stimulated, loved, and cared for by Clarissa, but she is not always there for him, because as much as she is a constant in his life, she has a life of her own that needs tending to as well. Richard is only staying alive for that care from Clarissa: “I think I’m staying alive to satisfy you” (The Hours). Eventually, Richard kills himself so that Clarissa will finally be forced to live her own life, instead of living only to salvage his which demonstrates that he only committed suicide for Clarissa’s wellbeing. Clarissa Vaughn perhaps had the most influence in Richard’s decision to seek out death, but so did his mother, Laura