Robin
William’s death by suicide this week raised national awareness of clinical
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Robin Williams in 2011
Source: wikipedia |
depression, addiction, and suicide. Many of us were surprised to learn that more
people die each year from suicide than homicide. “The homicide rate in America is about 6
per 100,000; for suicides it’s about 10.8.” (Benjamin Radford, “Is Suicide a More Present Danger Than
Homicide?” http://news.discovery.com/human/psychology/suicide-a-more-present-threat-than-murder-130823.htm)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
No matter what problems you are
dealing with, we want to help you find a reason to keep living. By calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your
area, anytime 24/7.
I
wasn’t thinking about faceless statistics when I wrote Spell Struck, a story
about a teen trying to prevent her sister from committing suicide. Instead, I
was remembering two teens I know who tried to commit suicide, and an adult who
became suicidal. My protagonist’s fear and worry stemmed from my personal experience.
I know what it is like to be on suicide watch, to be afraid to leave a person
alone. The fear imprisons you. And because the father of a childhood friend had
committed suicide, for me the possible outcome was all too real.
There
are no Do Overs with death.
Although
many years have passed, I still remember the desperate race against time that
marked my first experience with a suicidal loved one. At the time, the parents
of one my daughter’s preschool classmates were family therapists. I asked them,
“How do you convince someone to get treatment when they believe their situation
is hopeless?”
They
told me, “Tell the person there is always hope. Hopelessness isn’t reality;
it’s the disease talking.”
Their
approach worked. The adult I was worried about finally sought treatment. The person's suicidal thoughts and severe depression abated. The battle continues, two
decades later. Untreated depression doesn’t get better on its own or go away
anymore than untreated cancer or diabetes, or other serious illnesses.
What became of the two teens? Luckily, both survived their suicide attempts. One of them is leading a happy, healthy life. The other still struggles.
If
you have suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
And remember. There is
always hope.
© 2014 Ariella Moon
http://www.AriellaMoon.com
