Suicide Is Not An Answer

With the advent of some high profile suicides, I felt it was rather important to get the message out that suicide is not the answer. No matter what the problems being faced, suicide is far worse then any other option. Suicide does not rid or absolve anyone of their burdens. It simply intensifies it and move the burden to someone else. Their are many reasons why someone would consider taking their own life, but I want to concentrate on just one of those reasons. LGBT youth are among the highest suicide rates. The pressure of bullying, discrimination and increased shame by religious affiliations can seem increasingly unbearable to those in the LGBT community. Its hard to understand and rationalize your emotions when you are both depressed and confused about you sexual identity. Under those conditions, it seems you have only two options. Either live a lifetime of the pain or to end it all. It sounds cliche' to say, but it really does get better. I want to address those going through these thoughts, but I want those who are not to understand what it is like to feel this way as well. Its easy to say things will get better. Its easy to say that suicide is stupid or a cowards way out, but unless you have been through the mind set of someone who has though of, or even attempted, suicide it takes more than just words to talk someone from the edge. Imagine sitting in a small room. The room is empty with no windows, it is brightly lit with bright white walls. Music starts to play, soft at first, gradually getting louder. Its a classical piece, a piano with high and low, soft and hard notes with various tempos. Suddenly more music plays at the same time, just as loud. This time some hard rock. Then more, some country, also just as loud. and then more, and more until every genre of music is being played at all the same very loud volume level. The suppose you are told to pick out the names of each of the songs being played. When you close your eyes the music stops. When your eyes are open it plays again. The only way to get it to stop permanently is to either figure out all the songs or to keep your eyes closed forever. Change the music to emotions and that is what it is like for someone going through depression and thinking of suicide. But there is a third option to stopping the bombardment. That option is help. It is not shameful to ask for help. We all need a support system and help in our daily lives to help make sense of our emotions. I urge anyone who is either considering taking their life or know someone who is to reach out to someone for help. There are resources all over the world that offer free and anonymous help for the prevention of suicide. A link to such resource is here at International Association of Suicide Prevention. For those here in the united states there is The Trevor Project. I have been in your shoes. I have made it through. And I am here to help you too. Love to all.

Burly Bear Chris