In the last few months, one of the things I have become passionate about is suicide prevention.  As a result, I have become more vocal about my own suicide attempts and what brought me to the point where I felt that suicide was my only option.  I have come to believe that the more light that is shed on this difficult to discuss subject, the more aware people will be about the growing epidemic of suicide.

I remember how much pain I was in before I tried to take my own life.  It was a physical and mental pain that was more than I could bear.  The thought of how many people are out there who are in that kind of pain hurts my heart.  I want to let them know that they can move past that pain, and make it to a place where they are happier and healthier.  I want them to know that having hope is possible.

Silence keeps the subject of suicide clouded in mystery.  However, many suicide attempt survivors find it difficult to impossible to talk about it.  There is a great deal of shame associated with having attempted to take your own life.  People make judgments about the type of person your are.  There is an awful lot of pressure to ” perform better” in the future. Not everyone who has survived a suicide attempt is emotionally strong enough to break their silence.  They may never be strong enough. However, since I am strong enough, I feel it is my duty and privilege to attempt to educate people about suicide, and suicide prevention.

Each year the amount of people who die by suicide goes up.  My hope is that if enough people take on the challenge of educating others about suicide and suicide prevention we will one day see the suicide rate go down.  It may be an unrealistic hope, but unrealistic does not mean impossible.

If you are interested in joining an online community for people who have survived their suicide attempt, please take some time to look at Suicide Attempt Survivors