Why
I support World Suicide Prevention Day
You may have
noticed me posting a lot of pictures this month with hashtags #WSPD17 and
#iwasmadefor and the phrase “Stay. Find
what you were made for.” You may have
wondered why.
Well, September
10th was World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD).
Lots of organizations took the opportunity to spread awareness about
suicide. One organization doing a lot of
good in the world of suicide prevention is To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA).
This year, I
joined TWLOHA’s campaign by talking about what I was made for and encouraging
others to stay and find what they
were made for. I didn’t want to just
talk about it on September 10th, so I decided to make it a
month-long photo series.
Now that September is over, I want to share with you a
little bit more about WHY I support World Suicide Prevention Day.
* * *
I support World
Suicide Prevention Day because at fifteen, plan A was surviving high
school. Plan B was running away. Plan C was suicide. I didn’t actually think plan A was
possible. I almost went through with
plan B a number of times. Although I
never got to the point where plan C seemed like the best option, I kept it on
the back burner…just in case.
I support World
Suicide Prevention Day because I want EVERYONE to know that suicide doesn’t
have to be your plan A or B or C. There
is hope. There is help.
I support World
Suicide Prevention Day because I know what I was made for…but I want others to
know that they don’t have to have it figured out yet. They just have to stay until the do.
I support World
Suicide Prevention Day because I believe that spreading awareness is the first
step to prevention. We have to talk
about it.
Hang on…did you
catch that? Do I need to say it louder? WE HAVE
TO TALK ABOUT IT!!
I support World
Suicide Prevention Day because there is still a huge stigma around mental
health that shouldn’t be there. I want
my future daughters to grow up in a world without that stigma. Again, talking about it is the first step.
I support World
Suicide Prevention Day because I want my friends to know that if they ever need
to talk, I’m right here. There’s no
shame in saying “I can’t fight this battle alone anymore.” (Chances are, you’ve
been fighting it alone for way too long.
So please, let me help you carry that burden.)
I support World Suicide Prevention Day because I
stayed. And I want you to stay, too.
* * *
If you or someone
you know is considering suicide or any other form of self-harm, PLEASE reach
out. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is available 24/7 at
1-800-273-8255
There’s also an
online chat feature available here: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/LifelineChat.aspx
For more resources
on mental health and addiction, make sure to check out www.twloha.com
