I initially intended to write on a much lighter subject, but a boy who went to the same high school I went to died today. I never really knew him, but I am here crying just the same. I heard he attempted suicide, but did not succeed, fell into a coma and life support was shut off tonight. I obviously don't know for sure as its a recent thing, but that's what I've heard.
I have to say don't understand suicide. I used to think about suicide all the time, but now I just don't understand; not that I look down on anyone who has attempted or committed suicide. In fact, I have a reverse reaction, I wish I could have done something to prevent it. Sometimes all it takes it a few kind words. In this particular case the boy had many messages on his Facebook wall telling him to hang on, and that he can pull through. He had friends, he had a girlfriend, and a family. He was loved. I don't think I could ever be in the place where I feel so unloved that I would go back to thinking about taking my life, but my heart goes out to those who struggle with it. Many say its a selfish act, but I say those people have probably never experienced depression or suicidal thoughts.
I feel very strongly about suicide and depression as I have experienced first-hand the grip it can have on you. Because of this I made a SocialVibe account where I can raise money for the organization To Write Love on Her Arms. To Write Love on Her Arms is a not-for-profit organization which focuses on "presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide," as stated on their website. I encourage anyone who stumbles across my blog to check out both www.twloha.com to learn more and www.socialvibe.com to help raise funds for TWLOHA or your favorite charity.
Death in general is horrible, but when it happens to a young person it seems even worse. To think of someone who had their whole life ahead of them and then its gone, just like that. I'm not against the act, but why is it that we care more about a person once they are gone? I admit, I am guilty of it. I never knew this boy, yet in his death I seem to care more about him and who he was and what he was going through. Why does death affect us this way? Why start to care about someone when its too late to make any impact on their life?
My new goal is to make sure my friends and family know how much I love them and how I could never live without them, to prevent this from potentially happening to my loved ones. I encourage everyone reading this to do the same. It takes 2 seconds to say "I love you" and its totally painless. Let people know how much they mean to you because you never know how much it could affect their life.
Dedicated to Tristan Zwicker 1990 - 2010. You will be missed.
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With depression and suicidal thoughts, kind words couldn't hurt, but the biggest part of the time this will not prevent it. Most of the time suicide is a result of depression, and depression is a disease. Until all of society can compare depression to a disease such as diabeties and see that the person who has it cannot help it, it will always be a taboo subject. No one with diabeties would be embarrased to have the disease or to talk to family or a doctor about it but depression is another story. Society have seen people with mental illness as outcasts for decades. Mentally challenged children were locked up in basements, "crazy" people were sent to institutions. Some of these siuatiions have been overcome and it is no longer acceptable. I am hoping that one day soon depression will not be seen as a "problem" with a person and instead seen as a disease. So, if you want to help some one you feel is depressed instead of showing them all the love in the world encourage them to seek medical help. This is the most loving thing you can do for them. How do I know? I have depression.
ReplyDeleteI just heard the news about Tristans death.. I knew him well when he was a young boy.. he was sweet, kind, loud and loved to play with everyone. I babysat him and his sister regularly. They were both such sweet fun kids.. that is how I'll chose to remember him.. my condolances xox
ReplyDeleteTristan's grandparents lived or maybe still live on the same lake, as my dad and stepmother did. me and my sister used to go swimming, and catch minnows with him. i havent seen him in years, and we were never really great friends, but it's still a sad thing to hear about someone you used to know. r.i.p tristan. :)
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