Skip to main content

The Hit Single *Bang!* by AJR is about Suicide

Introduction

I listened to the lyrics to the AJR song, BANG! for the first time today and immediately noticed its connection to suicide. Curious why this wasn't obvious to more people, I googled it and discovered that I may be one of the few people who think this way. I'm not crazy, right?


Song Analysis

Listen to the chorus: "Everybody come hang (come hang). Let's go out with a bang. Bang! Bang! Bang!" These repeated words brought to my mind a couple of terrifying statistics: 

  • Suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death for college-age youth and youth ages 12-18 (CDC WISQARS)
  • The two leading methods of suicide (in high-income countries) are hanging and firearms (The Parent Resource Program).

As I continued to examine the song lyrics, I realized EVERYTHING about the song supported my interpretation. This radio hit doesn't necessarily glorify suicide. It's more of a social commentary on the frustrating plight of American youngsters. It draws in listeners with its seductive tune, upbeat tempo, and subtle yet resonant message. ("I'm thinking it's time to grow.") The lyrics describe the collective coming-of-age experience of Gen Z young adults, who, despite their revelry, find themselves prematurely confronted with crucial life decisions and a losing hand. As reflected in their gambling-themed music video, the privilege and responsibility of adulthood are represented by finally being allowed to play craps. However, observing other adults literally losing their shirts in this unfair game, they defiantly choose to cash out of life while they're ahead. ("I'm thinking it's time to go...") What an anti-happy message! Even the ironically positive melody colliding with the dark lyrics serves to illustrate the devil-may-care attitude of youth as they stare down the barrel of hopeless futures.

This song was a wake-up call for me. I work with youth, both professionally and in my church service. I worry that I do not fully understand just how present this issue is for many of them. Like the topic of homosexuality, talk of suicide was taboo in my youth. Younger Millennials regularly "joke" about wishing they were dead. But suicidal ideation seems to be on a whole other level among Gen Zers. I must work much harder to actively identify youth struggling with this issue. 

As I jumped into the latest research, one big takeaway stood out – one of the most important things an ally can do is to simply ask, "Are you thinking about hurting/killing yourself?" when you notice tell-tale signs in someone. And if they say yes, the following suicide prevention PSA gives some tips on what to say (and what not to say).

Suicide Awareness

Since this is such a pervasive and critical societal issue, and since I don't really hear about it, could a solution be to sponsor more suicide awareness days? Why is there currently only one day? Maybe the powers that be don't want to make it a bigger issue than it really is. But I think we're all underestimating the issue's prevalence and magnitude. I'm going to look it up.

Why is World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th?

World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO). The 10th of September each year aims to focus attention on the issue, reduce stigma, and raise awareness among organizations, governments, and the public, giving a singular message that suicides are preventable. (The U.S. and other nations extend this day to the entire month of September in National Suicide Prevention Month.)

I can think of a number of reasons why they selected this date:

  • Importance to Educators - Educators feel the brutal impact of suicide in their workplace each school year. These community caretakers demonstrate how personally they take this issue by prioritizing it early into the school year. This way, students immediately have the resources they need as they navigate their new environments.
  • A Statistically High Month - I can't find any international or national statistics on this, but September had the highest youth suicide in Montana in 2014. (January was the second highest...)
  • The Theme of Death is Naturally Reflected in The Change of Seasons - The transition from summer to fall often marks a period of change and adjustment, making it a suitable time to address mental health concerns. 
  • New Information Dissemination - Perhaps organizations that develop materials and provide resources revamp them during the summer months. Observance in September allows leaders to share the latest stats and resources just as students return to school.

What If We Added Another Round of Awareness in January?

I can think of several reasons why adding another National Suicide Prevention Month in January would be beneficial:

  • Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - January is often associated with higher rates of SAD, a type of depression that occurs at a specific time of year, usually in the winter when daylight hours are shorter. People with SAD may be more vulnerable to suicidal thoughts during this time. By placing National Suicide Prevention Month in January, there could be increased awareness and support during a period when individuals with SAD may need it the most.
  • Post-Holiday Blues - From my limited understanding, suicide doesn't occur at people's lowest points necessarily. It happens immediately after a specific triggering event or a rapid change in effect. The holiday season, which typically spans from late November to early January, can be challenging for many individuals. The sudden shift from connection with loved ones to the post-holiday blues, financial stress, and feelings of loneliness can contribute to emotional struggles. Alternatively, students who had terrible holidays are thrust back into daily interaction with peers with well-groomed personas, which can be jarring. Shifting National Suicide Prevention Month to January may allow for a more immediate response to those who are experiencing heightened distress after the holiday season.
  • New Year, New Start - January is often seen as a time for new beginnings and resolutions. By aligning National Suicide Prevention Month with the start of the new year, there may be an opportunity to piggyback on this temporary but powerful emotional lift by encouraging individuals to prioritize mental health as part of their resolutions (James Clear, Atomic Habits). The symbolism of a fresh start and a new year could be leveraged to promote positive actions, destigmatize seeking help, and foster a sense of hope for those struggling with suicidal thoughts.

How You Can Help?

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988, or chat at 988Lifeline.org.

Additional Suicide Prevention Resources

Conclusion

In 2018, 18% of U.S. high schoolers surveyed by the CDC said that they had experienced suicidal ideation in the past year. Please educate yourself to help our children to LIVE LIFE.

L - Limit access to means of suicide
I - Interact with the media on responsible reporting
F - Foster life skills of young people
E - Early identify and support everyone affected



Comments

  1. I love this post and your support of struggling individuals. And I think January is the perfect time to add another Suicide Prevention Day-most needy month of the year! September- who in the world chose September and why?! I had no idea suicide was the second highest cause of death in that age group. And I would wager that a very small percentage of our population knows that.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Please share your thoughts.

Popular posts from this blog

Rummi-"CUB" vs. Rummi-"CUBE"

The "Rummikub" Pronunciation Debate Affirmative Constructive: "Cub" For years, I have been a firm advocate and defender of the pronunciation, Rummi-"CUB".  The game box I grew up with spelled it, Rummicub  on the box. However, other productions of the game have variant spellings: Rummykub , Rummy Kube , Rummy Tiles , etc.  Based solely on box spelling, the game's true pronunciation is open to interpretation. Therefore, Rummi"cub" is equally acceptable to any other given pronunciation. Negative  Constructive : "Cube" My opponents argue that since the game originated over seas, we ought to respect and maintain its original pronunciation. Affirmative Rebuttal: Americanization of the Term When the game was brought to America and given Americanized rules, its name was also Americanized. Pronunciation loyalists then counter my rebuttal with, "there are lots of adopted foreign words that have retained their original pron...

The Secret Reason Why "Good Witch" Feels Emotionally Off

TL;DR It's the Botox. For the past 3 months, my wife, Stacia, and I have been watching  Good Witch  (via Netflix and Amazon Prime). Stacia adores winding down to "Hallmark-y shows." We can rely on Good Witch episodes to always resolve happily. The episodes are never too intense. The height of conflict revolves around things like someone's inability to locate the perfect spot to snap a romantic photo for a new tourism brochure. I consider my time watching these shows spouse bonding time , and emotional training. My favorite thing about watching feel-good shows with Stacia is getting to observe her facial reactions to the on-screen drama. When two people lean in for a long-anticipated kiss, Stacia tucks her knees into her chest and frowns with her forehead while lifting her chin and bottom lip. While I'm typically unable to suspend my disbelief, Stacia seems completely entranced by the various characters' emotions. Wishing I could join her in being swept aw...

Who's Got The Funk?

I am an amateur guitarist, and I've got no funk. My musical skills seem to lacking that special something . Great musicians have it . Those fortunate enough to have gotten hold of  it , create timeless hits. While musicians without it  fade into oblivion. After spending hours searching through Blues history websites and 1970's band documentaries online, I discovered what that special something  is thank to a (70% Man, 30% fish) character from the BBC show "The Mighty Boosh" named Old Gregg. He identified that  thing  as  The Funk ! But what exactly is The Funk ? Here is some dialogue from the show to help explain its origin and purpose: Old Gregg: You're a musician, yeah? Howard: Yes I am. Old Gregg: Butchya ain't very good, are ya? Howard: I'm one of the best in town. Old Gregg: Come on, I read your reviews. Hmm? You know what your problem is? Howard: What? Old Gregg: Ya ain't got the funk. You're all rigid. Hmm? You're l...