I’ve been thinking about the month of September since May. And while I have more to say and continue from my last post something else is on my mind tonight. Today, September 10, is World Suicide Prevention Day.
There’s a lot attached to this day. There are people out there who have previously tried to take their own life and survived. Today their hearts might be heavy. There are people who experience regular suicidal thoughts and might wonder why they’re still here. Today their hearts might be heavy too. And finally, there’s people out there like me. Those who’ve lost someone they loved so much to suicide. Those who are left behind wondering all those questions of “What, why, and how?” I know those hearts are heavy.
Suicide is a beast. . . it rips you to your core no longer able to stand. And, one of the hardest things about it is even if you’re vigilant and doing everything you feel you can for someone you love they may still die by suicide. Suicide is shocking. Suicide is chaos.
In May of 2017, I learned that lesson firsthand. Someone I saw everyday and loved very much took his own life. Suicide changes you. People filled with suicidal thoughts and those who die by suicide don’t realize how far their death will reach and how much they will be missed. If only they did. . . .
For me, personally my view of life shifted drastically. And my professional work shifted as well. I’ve always held an interest in working with clients experiencing suicidal thoughts and those that had previous suicide attempts. However, it wasn’t until after 2017 I understood that is exactly where my place was meant to be. I realized how much more I wanted to learn and grow if it meant I could help save lives.
Over the past few years, I have spent countless hours reading books, taking courses, reading studies, and hearing/ sharing stories surrounding suicide. I know we’ll never be able to ask those that have died by suicide why. But we can turn someone else’s answer into a WHY NOT. We can help people choose LIFE.
The greatest gift from my loss was that I have built this foundation of compassion, understanding, and care for those deep dark thoughts and intentions. It might be scary to hear those things, but the alternative is much worse. The truth is those feelings of self-hate, wishing we could disappear, and feeling unloved and unheard are all to common. These aren’t feelings, thoughts, or ideas that should be hidden away, but instead be brought into the light to stop the spread of suicide.
If you’re reading this and you’re having suicidal thoughts or plans reach out to someone or one of the crisis lines listed below. If you’re someone who has lost someone you love to suicide, I’m with you. And for those of you who haven’t known that feeling of loss I hope you never do. Finally, it’s also my hope you will be curious and understand suicide is lurking out there in friends, relatives, coworkers, neighbors and strangers.
Ready to get involved?
A great place to start would be putting your local crisis lines or text line and the national suicide prevention hotline into your phone. When and if the time comes you will be prepared.
In Minnesota, there are crisis lines across the state and within most counties:
To find your local mental health crisis number by zip code or county go to https://mentalhealthmn.org/support/crisis
For Carver county: 952-442-7601
For Scott County: 952-818-3702
For Hennepin County: 612-596-1223
Or reach the text line: text MN to 741741
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is: 1-800-273-8255