Well I had something in the works for this second installment of Weekend Reading, where I bring you a few of my favorite blog posts and articles to head into the weekend with, but instead I got distracted by Twitter (shocking, I know).
She asked if she could E-mail me and I said…
And she did…
Melanie writes a blog about debt. What does this have to do with suicide? Apparently a few years ago she noticed that one of the search terms that led someone to her blog was “I have so much debt I want to kill myself” which in turn led to these two posts. It is heartbreaking losing a loved one to suicide and even more tragic that people are killing themselves because of debt. Money is something that causes us all stress at one point of another in our lives, and it isn’t necessarily always debt. I have known quite rich people that were so fearful of losing their money or outright depressed when they lost a bit of it. If you throw money concerns into a pot with depression, or divorce, or career burnout, or loss of a loved one, etc. and it can be the proverbial straw.
I’ve been depressed before, but never been suicidal. I can’t really understand how that feels. But I do know that money is just something you trade your life energy for. As long as you have life, you can figure out a way to get money. Suicide is not an optimal solution. If you are at the point where you are seeking suicide as a solution to your problems you need to immediately seek help.* Debt and money problems are temporary. Death is permanent. Find the one thing you value more than your pain and hang onto it. There is always something. Let it be your purpose to live.
There is often much shame involved with money. If we fail with money often we believe that it is because who we are, some inherent flaw within us. Our relationship to money is a behavior and a habit, not some permanent defect. Our value and self-worth becomes tied to the almighty dollar (or whatever currency you inhabit). We become ‘not enough’. You are enough though. We all are.
I wasn’t planning on having suicide as a topic this week, but I feel compelled to support Melanie’s World Suicide Prevention D
Physicians have a suicide rate about twice general population. Dr. Wible writes tirelessly on this subject. If you are in the medical field and suffering read her blog. Maybe you will find some help and some answers. It is where I landed when searching for answers when my friend from medical school died by suicide.
Tim Ferriss is probably most well known for his books and podcast, but he also occasionally writes on his blog. I really like his post on suicide.
This article by Jennifer Gonnerman is a favorite of mine. It touches on a lot of important issues and is absolutely heartbreaking. When you have finished go ahead and read this one. Warning:These are emotional, tough reads.
I’ve read some other really great essays and reflections on this topic, but I don’t remember where. Sorry. If I stumble upon them I will link to them at some point.
And finally I leave you with this, a song I feel is about depression and suicide from a band who advocates for suicide prevention and mental health awareness…and is awesome.
*The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline â 1 (800) 273-8255
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
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Sometimes it is hard to know how much of a difference we are making, HP. This is your best post to date.
Thank you. The purpose of my blogging is to make a difference in peoples lives and you are right, it is hard to know the impact, especially when the numbers are small. I’ve noticed inspiration often comes from unexpected places though, so I keep writing.
Wow,what a tragedy! Absolutely heartbreaking!
Hopefully his story will create change in the system.
RIP KALIEF!
Yeah, some stories grab you and don’t let go. All it takes is for the right person to read it and to act upon it. Our criminal justice system has some serious flaws and I think we often don’t treat freedom like the priceless commodity it is.
Thanks so much for supporting the project! It means a lot to me.
Of course! Thank you for doing all the heavy lifting đ