In Honor of World Suicide Prevention Week: September 8-14

With the upcoming World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 I stand in conflict with myself, because a matter of such importance, and still so little attention, it is easy for it to vanish between the countless of days we are celebrating, for everything under the sun.

Not only are the issues of suicide, depression, and mental illness important to me because of the daily wave of emotions, from happiness in one moment, to a rope and a note the next that I’m experiencing. These things also matters to me because of the labels out there that’s still preventing people from coming to the floor with bravery and confess their battle and confusion about these haunting demons.

Also, this is for the thousands of families having to sit through every emotion; every doctor’s appointment; every morning’s “don’t forget your medicine” conversation, and every monthly bill from the therapist. Every time he or she leaves the house and don’t pick up their phone after three miscalls you begin to imagine the worst might have happened. This is for the families and friends that keep on praying that this person would see the value and sacredness of their lives; the prayers that always ends with, “and God, please let them see themselves the way You see them”. It is not that easy, believe me. Because it’s one thing to see beauty in others, and it’s another thing to notice it in your own self, but it’s an entirely different thing to see and accept your beauty through the eyes of others.

My heart breaks every time I hear of someone who has committed suicide. For them. For their families. Their memories, and for the missed opportunities. In the midst of such tragedy, the one question everyone asks is always ‘why’ (why did they do that). I know it’s an attempt to understand but it can easily become an overrated excuse for “why didn't I see it coming”. The old-aged slogan of “prevention is better than cure” deserves every bit of exposure it can get, on these issues as well. That is what the week in September will be for: to remind ourselves that pain is inevitable; depression is treatable, and suicide IS preventable. Although I've been there myself, more than a couple times, there should be NO reason why any human being should ever feel so lost and alone that the only absolute to them is death by suicide.

I am fortunate enough to have the gift of friendship that gives me the room to not be okay sometimes, and I have a strong appetite for life despite the clashing of my fears and dreams every so often. But there are those who do not have that. Who want it. Who crave for it, and ache for it through every late night Facebook status or tweet, but their aching always returns hollow in a virtually overcrowded space. So, September 8-14 is for them.

May we come to see the aching around us.

May we come to support them, and love them, and offer healing to them whether it be through treatment, prayer, hugs, or walks on the beach.

But most of all, may we prevent them from staying in those dark places they once called home.

In Honour of World Suicide Prevention Week.