During the 2018-2019 school year, four students who attended my high school committed suicide. It is crucial to be aware of warning signs so that young adults can be encouraged and guided to receive the help they need. At the end of the school year, my high school held an assembly that addressed the suicides and encouraged students to be more aware of their peers and to reach out to an adult or counselor if they noticed any behaviors or signs that could indicate depression or suicidal thoughts in any of their friends or classmates. While the school provided high schoolers with names and contact information of counselors they could reach out to, I also think it would have been beneficial for them to provide a link to a website like this one so students can research and learn more on their own time.
I have only ever seen my Dad cry three times in my entire life. The first time was when he brought home our yellow lab, Nellie, as a teeny puppy. My sister and I had been wanting a dog for years and were overjoyed with the surprise of a brand new pup. The second time was in third grade when my great grandma passed away. My Dad had always been very close to her and he sat down with my sister and I to emphasize how special his relationship with her was, and told us we should be very thankful to have a similar relationship with our grandma. The third time was in eighth grade when my step brother, Austin, committed suicide.
It is important to address and discuss suicide because of the various ways it is portrayed in the media. Young adults are exposed to suicide in the form of movies, TV shows, song lyrics, and popular culture and it is healthy for them to have questions and concerns regarding the topic. A couple years ago the Netflix hit 13 Reasons Why began trending and created a lot of controversy. The hit TV show tells the story of a 17-year-old girl named Hannah who dies by suicide, leaving behind 13 audio cassette tapes for 13 of her classmates on which she explains exactly why she blames them for her death. The TV show showed Hannah’s subsequent suicide in graphic detail. Many people argued that this TV show glorified and dramatized suicide in a way that conveys to young people it is a justifiable means of revenge. It is so important for young people to have access to resources like this website so they can become educated on just how serious of an issue suicide is. They should understand that while it may be used to add shock factor to certain Hollywood TV shows and movies, it is NEVER something to be taken lightly and should always be addressed.
A quick story about myself! I am the type of person who comes off as bubbly, outgoing and generally happy. I have struggled with mental health for most of my life and it would never be apparent to a lot of people because I do not display obvious or outward signs. I cannot stress how important it is to check up on friends and family members to let them know they are loved and appreciated. Remember, you never know what another person is going through and the smallest interactions can end up making the biggest differences!
My roommate found out that her best family friend had just took his life. In this situation, it was too late and the unspeakable and tragic incident took place. When I sat down with her, she told me she had absolutely no idea. For this she felt horrible and now has begun looking at what was the issue. What she told me and realized that asking and just checking in on your friends is truly so important.
Demi Lovato is a perfect example. She tried taking her own life by overdosing. She was struggling a lot with bulimia and with various mental health issues. To cope with this, she turned to drugs. This is a common outlet many turn too when dealing with depression to block out the pain. Demi unfortunately tried to overdose with drugs and kill herself, but luckily, she was saved. This is a horribly sad story, but a life was saved and with help she is now loving her life!
Suicide Awareness 