In the time it took you to count to 13, someone in this country took their own life. Think of it. Counting to 13 doesn’t take that long. A friend, a family member, a colleague, a neighbor, a co-worker, a stranger, a celebrity are dead, in the time it took to count to 13.

Suicide touches in a profoundly intimate way. Why intimate? Because the questions, the feelings, the shock touches us in a personal way not many things can do. Why would someone make the decision to die?

The reasons are varied and there is no one specific reason. Certainly not one that makes sense. But it does. There is a certain logic that makes sense only to the ones who commit suicide and succeed or the ones who attempt and don’t complete.

People who complete or attempt suicide are not weak, selfish, trying to manipulate, get attention or are crazy. They are likely to feel trapped, want their particular situation or pain to stop, don’t want to be a burden to family and can think of no other solution but to end their life.

  •  “My attempt had nothing to do with how ‘good or ‘bad’ my life is. It came from being tired – tired of pretending, tired of being depressed.”-Valerie S.
  • “It is the complete opposite of a selfish decision. In that moment, we truly feel the world would be a better place without us.”-Jen D.
  • “I wish my friends and family could understand that it’s not their fault. It wasn’t that I didn’t know they loved me; I didn’t have it in me to keep fighting my monsters.” Artie K.
  • “I wish others understood I am not a danger to them. After my attempt, my friends kept me at arm’s length because they were afraid I would hurt them too. It left me feeling more isolated and rejected than ever. I wish people understood the power of what seems like a simple little thing. A hug. A text. A phone call; even if I can’t bear to answer and you get my voice mail. Tiny things that are actually huge things because they say,” I want you here, I want to help you fight.”-Jennifer K.

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education www.save.org
American Association of Suicidology suicidology.org
Push For Awareness – Founded by 3 classmates whose friend committed suicide
Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255

Share Post:

Ready to start feeling like your best self again?