The Stigma of Suicide

Statistics tend to tell a story. They are proof of realities. Unfortunately, not all statistics tell happy tales.

•        Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-24.

•         Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college aged youth across the country.

•         More teens die from suicide than cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease – COMBINED.

So why is it that we don’t talk about it? Why is suicide consistently swept under the rug? Why do we, as a society, not have open lines of communication when it comes to depression and suicide?

The answer is a simple one: we are scared.

It is easier to ignore suicide than it is to talk about it. Many people cannot comprehend why someone would take their own life. They cannot get into the head of people who are suffering. They cannot feel what they are feeling. Because of that, they often times dismiss the issue entirely. And in doing so, those people are only adding to the problem.

We need to talk about it.

Having conversations, creating dialogue, and working through the problem can only help.

Sure, suicide isn’t a happy topic. And yes, it is an extremely sensitive, difficult thing for most to address. But telling loved ones, or anyone who is struggling with depression, how you feel might just be able to save their life.

“I do not want you to kill yourself.”

"If you do this we will ALL be forced to live without you.”

“Suicide is a selfish way out.”

Sentences like those carry a tremendous amount of weight. They are difficult to say and difficult to hear. But they are important. They are extremely important.

As a society, we need to face the stigma of suicide head on. We need to be open and honest. We need to stop catering to the elephant in the room and instead face our fears by talking about it.

Suicide is not a scary word.

Goodbye is.

#MakeHappyHappen