World Suicide Prevention Day 2014

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day.  Many people hear stories of others committing suicide but have never seen it happen to anyone close to them. I always heard the stories and thought well that's selfish or why didn't they want to get help and talk to someone about it?  

Labor Day Weekend I got a text from a family member letting me know that someone we have been friends with for a very long time had committed suicide.  What happened next?  Well the usual questions, why?, when?, where?, how?. Someone who was always so happy and always up for a good time, why would they not want to be around anymore?  Was it something we did or didn't do that caused them to do this?  Was there anything that we could have done to help prevent it from happening?  Nobody ever saw any signs of him struggling or suffering. Leaving us all angry and upset, we all thought we could have done this or we could have done that. Why didn't we make that phone call? Why didn't we show up at the house to look for him when he wasn't answering us hours later? He is now gone too soon and even though the memories are there forever within our hearts and minds, we still have questions left unanswered.

Suicide is not a joking matter and there are many websites to reach out for help on and how to help that person in need. Be open with close friends and family about your feelings and emotions, they may be able to help you before its too late.  One of my go to websites for suicide awareness has been To Write Love On Her Arms for many years. I know people who have helped themselves by using the website and others who have used the site to help others who were in need of help.