My good friend had lost her son to suicide recently. I was touched by his death because this is the closet suicide has occurred to me. The tragedy of suicide is that a life could have easily been saved. So when someone comes to you about suicide, validating their feelings is something easily done that could save their life.
Fact: 90% of those who commit suicide have an underlying mental illness. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S.
Fact: Stigma is a feeling of shame or judgement from someone else; in this case, judged just because they have a mental health condition. Stigma is cited as a primary reason why many people do not seek help when they experience symptoms of mental illness.
The first step to getting help is to SAY IT OUT LOUD. Remember, you are not alone!
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – Call 800-273-TALK (8255)
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Crisis Text Line – Text NAMI to 741-741
http://www.crisistextline.org/ NAMI help line - 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
https://www.nami.org/ WarriorIn your mama’s eyes, you were a warrior.No one knew how long you had been in this war, did you? Your warrior calls did not go unheard but misunderstood. Wounds did not surface on your dermis so we did not see. And finally, you went into that long goodnight as we remain at the threshold wishing to hear your one last cry.
Your mama, she cannot forget you, even if she dies. Her heart has been incinerated the day you separated, and yes, you said you did not want to hurt anyone but here we are, in this situation, stuck in the irony of your proclamation. Still, we pray you have peace in your heart, as we forgive you today and every day. I️ do not want to wear you like a scar but it is the only place I️ will see you anymore. I️ will hear you when the birds sing and touch you in the morning dew because you will never be gone.