So awhile back, I joined this cool page via a very well-known social network. It was a page in which people of a certain occupation could share stories, gripes, tips and tricks, blah blah blah… And it’s great. During my perusing of this page, I came across this awesome lady raising money for a great cause, and for very personal reasons.
Brenda (not a codename, this time) is raising money for the Greater Lycoming Out of the Darkness Walk, sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She is walking in memory of her son, Scott, and also one of her co-workers. This is obviously a cause she is very passionate about; and I can understand why- but I have come to realize that I am, too.
Suicide can be a pretty taboo subject for some- I actually got into a pretty heated argument with a family member awhile back, pretty shortly after the news broke of Robin Williams’ suicide. This family member’s take was not only ill-informed, it was just plain offensive and embarrassing. But you can’t teach someone unwilling to learn. Unfortunately, not only in my job, but throughout my childhood and personal life I’ve seen what kind of chaos mental illness can create in the mind of someone suffering from it. Depression is crippling. Other mental and mood disorders wreak havoc not only on the person suffering from the illness but on the family members and the friends near the person as well. And for many of these people, the only freedom they see is ending their lives permanently.
This is a problem. This is a huge problem. This is a 38,000 lives each year in the United States problem. We can do better than that. Our friends, our families, our coworkers, and even strangers on the street that we don’t even know, they all deserve better than that- because we’re all just humans trying to stay human, right?
Please, if you can find it in your heart, on your conscience, or in your wallet, donate to Brenda’s cause in memory of her son, Scott. Many of us know someone who has taken their own life. I’ve kind of lost count over the years. You can click on the link here to go directly to Brenda’s fundraising page, and see her story. There is also more information about the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Out of the Darkness Walks in other areas. If you don’t have the money to give, feel free to share- maybe someone who sees it will.
Thanks, readers.
Stay human.
Being Human 