Suicide is not an option

Suicide is not an option. I’m a little off topic compared to my usual posts today but I feel the need to address the issue. My neighbour attempted to commit suicide yesterday and, luckily, my other neighbour found him on time and he was sent to the hospital. He is now safe and recovering. This happens at an interesting time in my life when I’m about to start doing some interventions on the demystification of homosexuality in high schools and where I talk about my coming out at 15 years old. Even though that’s 17 years ago, when I talk about the month prior to telling my parents and my suicidal thoughts, it automatically changes the atmosphere and people seem to be mesmerized by that part of my life. It’s probably because they can feel the emotions I convey when I talk about it.

A big question that pops up when suicide issues arise is the “Why?” Why do people end up thinking this is their last resort? My personal explanation is that the internal pressure has built too much. When I was at the deepest of my situation, I felt a profound disconnect between myself and people around me. I had let my internal reality grow too far away from my external reality. The solution around that is to communicate: you must re-establish the bridge between you and others around you. Make it your mission to talk to someone until you are understood. Because unfortunately, the first person that you talk to might not be the most responsive to your calling. I remember my hairdresser telling me about a customer who was attempting suicide so often that it became a joke! Unfortunately, that person was in desperate need for help and she just didn’t know how to express it. Every situation is important, no matter how it is expressed and how much people listen.

I also read this really good article on how to deal with people with suicidal thoughts. Click here to read it. I hope you find my post and this article helpful.

Thanks for reading!
Martin