What is it that makes someone want to take their life? No-one can provide a clear cut answer to the suicidal epidemic that continually plagues the world we occupy. I regularly work with many youths who have either thought about taking their own life or are painfully walking a thin line between life and death on daily basis. Most kids I speak to, have a fixed belief that they ‘don’t matter’ and in many cases our rat race focused society encourages that thought process. It saddens me that some of these kids have no idea how important they really are and how their timely death will do the world (and themselves) a serious injustice.
Growing up, I lost quite a few friends to the grips of suicide and I distinctly remember feeling helpless, mainly because I didn’t know what to do or how to take the initial steps for assistance. Many times I felt suicidal myself and I didn't feel comfortable talking to anyone about it, due to fear of rejection or lack of understanding. I guess that’s why I dedicate my days to guiding youths towards their potential, I do it as a service to the kids of today and importantly for the ones that I lost along the way.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for people aged 15-44 and I believe that it's a collective conservative mindset that keeps us ignorant rather than heartless. It's almost like it feels so foreign, until you actually experience the devastation... and it's a taboo to talk about it.
I’ve been really open about my mental health issues for quite some time now and no matter how uncomfortable people are with my expressions, I’ll keep comfortable telling my truths… until they are comfortable with living in a world of realism coupled with acceptance and compassion.
It’s important that people feel ‘normal’ about who they are rather than how they are ‘supposed to be’. If we actively made people feel completely comfortable with themselves, then maybe the conversation will become a little easier and a little more ‘normal’. I don’t think this is an entire solution, but I think it is a start.