Every year, over 179 thousand Canadians take their own life.
With the rise of cyber bullying, economic & relationship pressures and untreated mental illness, suicide rates are climbing at an alarming rate. In honour of Suicide Prevention Week, we should all take a moment to remember those who couldn’t think of another way out.
Life is hard. Regardless of social class, race, gender or sexuality, everyone has stress and everyone has those days where you just don’t want to get out of bed. I know I’ve had MORE than my share of those days.
No matter how hard life is, you have to believe you will make it through, even on the most horrible days. I know it seems easy to say that, because everyone thinks their pain is unique & somehow more terrible than anyone else’s. I used to feel that way. I genuinely believed that no one in this world knew how to help me through.
My father died when I was a little girl. By the time I was 12 years old, I had been to seven different elementary schools and was a ward of the Crown living in a foster home (fortunately, I ended up with a wonderful family who loved me like their own & my teen years were normal & full of love). My early adult years were a roller coaster of emotions. I got engaged, broke off my engagement because he was beating me, met someone else, had a beautiful baby girl, got engaged again, got married & miscarried…all before my 25th birthday! There were days I just laid in bed, wondering how much more I could take before I just gave up. But thanks to some good friends & some TLC, I didn’t. Because of that, I graduated from college, built a tidy portfolio & was blessed with two more beautiful daughters. I’m so glad I fought through the pain so I could have the life I have.
However, things don’t always end the way we’d like them to. I miscarried a second time & my eight year marriage turned physically & emotionally abusive & I am now a single mom of three. Some days, I am okay. Sometimes, I’m bitter as Hell. Sometimes I look @ my life & wondered when it will be normal. But I chose to get help, go to counseling so that I can be the mom my daughters deserve. Now that I’m older, I understand that most people haven’t “been there” but they have their own demons. That helps them empathize. So, while your pain is unique to your life, it doesn’t mean that you’re alone. There is always someone to understand.
If there’s one thing I have learned, it’s that life isn’t always peachy & sometimes things royally suck. But when all is said & done, remember you are stronger than you think you are, you are better than the hardships & you CAN make it through. If you can’t choose life for yourself, then do it for those around you. Choose life for your parents, your friends, your family! Just because you are gone doesn’t mean the problems are gone; it just means you’ve passed them to someone else. Only those left to take up the burden are struggling to understand why you left them; they’re not equipped to fix the problem.
Every week should be Suicide Prevention Week. Take a moment to offer a hand to those who are struggling, but remember the following:
1. EVERY threat of suicide/self harm should be taken seriously. Even if you think they’re full of it, call the cops. They’ll either realize they aren’t getting the attention they want, or they’ll get the help they need.
2. Getting counseling doesn’t make you weak. It makes you strong enough to recognize that you can’t do it alone.
3. Never dismiss/belittle someone’s attempts to get help.
4. Always report cases of bullying in school or the workplace.
Remember, you only get one chance at life, don’t cut yours short before you get to the best part!
(If you are struggling with depression & don’t know where to turn, don’t be afraid to call the crisis line in your area or speak to the on call crisis nurse at the ER.)
The Misadventures of MHC 