My my my, these statistics are startling:
As I began my research for this month’s She Lifts Podcast series, I found these statistics hard to digest. What is worse is the fact that this doesn’t truly capture all of the suicides in the US. The stigma surrounding mental health and suicide (which are not always synonymous) typically deters people from reporting it. There are families who cover up the cause of death if it resulted from suicide to uphold an appearance.
This has got to end. We HAVE to talk about it. Losing just one more person to suicide is one too many. There are a ton of resources for people who are experiencing a rough time, no matter what the cause is. Occasionally, the cause is clear — break up/divorce, assault or even loss of a job or loved one. However, there a tons of other underlying reasons for suicide and suicidal thoughts and ideations including mental health disorders and certain medications. There are trained professionals who are passionate about assisting to sift through the dust and help you find the answers.
One thing for sure – suicide is not the answer.
If you know someone who may be suicidal or who has even attempted suicide in the past, has a history of self-harm, is a danger to him/herself or others, or is simply experiencing a rough time coping with life changes, please check out the resources section. Of course, if they are in danger or danger to others, alert your local law enforcement immediately. This page is updated periodically. If there is a resource in your community or anything that may be missing, please submit it here for update.
As a part of your community, we all have a responsibility to one another to watch over, assist and guide. No one person is journeying through life alone.
Today, I charge you to search your heart for the compassion and kindness that it takes to rebuild from brokenness. It is time to stop worrying about what others may think or say and focus on healing and love.
Suicide can be prevented if we all do our part.
best,
aja moon