sharing your survivor story

A recent article in USA Today was entitled, "Suicides Leave Indiana County Mourning". There is discussion of suicde clusters and the fact there have been 15 completed suicides since January 1. That is a lot of pain for one county to deal with. If you figure for every life that stopped a dozen more more were forever altered, that is a lot of pain.

There were lots of comments regarding these suicides. Everyone is an expert until it happens to them. One of the first comments in response to the article is that suicide is a selfish act. I've heard this many times before. I don't agree. To infer that suicide is always a selfish act supposes that the person is thinking logically about life and death. In most cases I don't think this is the case.

I wish I had the time to go to Indiana and conduct some support groups. I would love to help these people deal with their pain. They will need lots of help. Please pray for them even if you don't know who they are, God does.

Today if you are thinking about suicide, please don't. Get some help. Few answers about life and death are found at the end of a gun barrel.

Or, if you are coping well and notice someone who isn't, reach out to them. We all need help at some point in our life. Perhaps you don't feel qualified to help someone, you don't know what to say. Just one question, can you ask how are you feeling, and then listen? Then you are qualified. Peace.