Suicide Prevention week means a lot to many people around the world. It's a week that stands for hope to push through the tough times, and a way to give other people that same hope. Suicide Prevention has a personal connection for myself, and many others.
Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th, and the week leading up to it is a worldwide reminder that your, and others, life is worth fighting for and that everyone is important. For people suffering with mental illness this can be a reminder greatly needed. This movement has impacted many through events and organizations that help connect people with recovery and overall hope.
Personally, I have had Anxiety and Depression for many years. They are my mind's personal bully. Making me feel worthless and not important. Worst of all they make me feel unloved. I know how it feels to not want to live anymore, to be drag through the dirt for so long that nothing seems worth it. But this week, shines light on to these issues and makes people feel less alone. Which in return can lead people in to recovery.
One organization that stands out, to me at least, is To Write Love on Her Arms. This organization was founded ten years ago based on the principle of getting people help from mental illness and addiction. Every year they create a Suicide Awareness campaign. This year was based of the words "And so I Kept Living". This campaign went into depth about what reasons people have to stay.
This made me start to think about what reasons I have to stay, which can be difficult to think about when you are going through a depressive episode. I found a fair few, some of them small silly ones, but none the less important.
I keep living because of days at Lake Tahoe and nights with friends. I keep living because seeing my family makes me happy. I keep living because of quite peaceful nights at home, and seeing dogs on the street. I keep living because maybe, just maybe, I have a future greater than what I can imagine on my darkest days. Mostly, I keep living because I have family/friends and a God who loves, and I love them back.
The point is you have a reason to stay. You still have a place on this Earth, and in many people's hearts. You are important and more loved then you realize. If you, or a friend is in a crisis please call 1-800-273-8255, or text the Crisis Text Line "GO" to 741-741.
Suicide Prevention Week/Day leaves many people, including myself, with hope for the coming year. It reminds people why we choose life over death, and why we all matter. It's a way to connect others to treatments and to hope. It's a week that stands out throughout the year.
