Suicide
It’s something that is only talked about in hushed whispers. A cry for help we all promise to
answer but we choose time and time again to ignore it. After the pain has faded we go on with
our normal lives as if nothing ever happened. Suicide is something too serious to be ignored and
we need to start talking about it.
We live in a state that’s leading cause of death in teenagers is no longer automobile
accidents, but it is suicide according to Standard Examiner. The reason we are not hearing about
this anywhere is because society is too worried about their image and the guilt society as a whole
faces is too much to handle from something such as this. We are focusing only on things that
please us and help us to live our lives freely without a care in the world. The problems are
brushed under the rug while everyone walks all over them as if they do not exist.
This ignorance present in society is our problem. The University of Texas Psychiatric Institute
stated that seventy-five percent of individuals who die by suicide are going through depression.
Instead of looking out for our fellow man we end up ignoring them because we believe that if
something is not directly impacting our lives it simply is not important. Unfortunately, rejection
has been proven to directly lead to depression according to relationship counselor Greg Baker.
When this realization hits and society wonders what it could have done to make things better,
everyone then begins to go through a stage of guilt and instead of overcoming it and helping
others, the issue is just avoided altogether.
While this is a very sensitive topic, it is not a topic we can pretend does not exist. It is not
something we can simply avoid because we don’t feel good talking about it. Although we may
not understand what it is someone is going through, that does not mean it is not incredibly hard
on them. We are all different and that is something that makes humans human. Our ability to
accept these differences and to journey through hardships together is what makes humans
incredible.
Of course we don’t always understand each other’s problems. In fact, most of the time we do
not have the ability to understand. However, we always have the ability to accept each other and
to help each other. Something as simple as listening to someone else might mean the difference
between life and death for that person. We must never take the risk by choosing to ignore them
and instead we must always go out of our way to help each other out.
For those of you who may have struggled with thoughts of suicide or may have been
contemplating it, there is help out there. Life gets better. Right now it may seem like a living hell
and that you don’t matter, but you do matter. There are many ways in which you can get help.
The Suicide Hotline is open 24/7 and the number is 1-(800)-273-8255. The counselors here at
Bingham are always willing to listen and to help you. Don’t give up.