According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, it is the 11th leading cause of death, which is absolutely staggering. Many factors are thought to contribute to increasing rates, especially in teens and young adults. Cyberbullying is at an all-time high, and in my own personal opinion, the movement away from God and faith is a driving factor as well. This is multi-faceted and complex, of course. But to simplify, a relationship with God and His teachings and regular time spent with like-minded believers leads to many positive mental benefits, such as providing a sense of hope and purpose.
I will never fully understand why my mother, or anyone else for that matter, chose to end her own life. What I can do, however, is show compassion to those experiencing the same thing and try and educate those around me on signs of potential self-harm and resources for prevention. Her pain was beyond what she thought was manageable, but the loss of her has left us forever damaged. If you or someone you know is making threats or calling out for help, please take them seriously and assure them that you’re there for them and never want them to leave. Some valuable resources follow:
Call or text 988 from a smartphone
anthemofhope.org
afsp.org
Traci Little
Posted at 02:32h, 14 AugustThank you for sharing your personal story that others may find hope and heal!!
Love you,
Traci Little