Suicide. Who wants to talk about it? Not many... It is one of those topics that has such a negative stigma surrounding it and takes such a destructive path on the people left behind.
My grandma committed suicide when I was only 6 years old. My mom was 31. She was a recovering alcoholic and was in a deep depression and just couldn't deal with it anymore. One day, she walked in to the water up in Edmonds, WA and gave her life away. Her body didn't even fight for the right to live. She left a note explaining she couldn't take it anymore but didn't say any I love you's or goodbyes. Just left people wondering if they were there enough for her, could they have done more and what went wrong? I can't even begin to imagine how my mom felt and how much it hurt her. My mom leads a wonderful life but to this day, she still wonders if she'll ever be able to get over it.
Now, think of your child committing suicide. How about 2 of them within a year? My heart aches just thinking of losing a child which has got to be one of the most devastating things to happen to a person. We received an email with a powerful article telling her mom's story of losing her 2 sons to suicide. It sent her in to alcoholism and a deep depression. Out of it came goodness as now the family is now active in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AASP).
Please read her story:
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/tools/story_pf.asp?ID=245084
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has a very informative website and here are some key stats I was unaware of:
- More than 32,000 people in the United States die by suicide every year.
- It is this country's 11th leading cause of death, the #3 cause of death for 15-24 years olds and the #4 cause of death for humans aged 18 - 65.
- Suicide is often characterized as a response to a single event or set of circumstances
- A person dies by suicide about every 16 minutes in the United States. An attempt is estimated to be made once every minute.
- 90% of all people who die by suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death.
- There are four male suicides for every female suicide, but twice as many females as males attempt suicide.
- Every day, approximately 80 Americans take their own life, and 1,500 more attempt to do so.
Suicide is something we can help prevent by identifying the signs and getting treatment. Sandy Ross has a little advice for parents, "Pay attention to your children. Listen to what they have to say. Appreciate every little moment with them. Be open with them. Discuss everything, good and bad."
How can you help raise awareness?
You can donate online at AFSP.
Visit the AFSP's Out of the Darkness Community Walks website to participate in a walk in a city near you.
2 comments:
There is a great you tube and site www.makeadifference.om/BR/ that addresses teen suicide and ends with startling stats on the # of negative words in ratio w/ positive that a teen hears in a day. It effected both me and my 15 1/2 year old daughter!
Thanks for making a difference in my life :O)
Joy McCool
ooops, left out the you tube, sorry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN_LPTNQEqM
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