It’s okay to not be okay.

Don’t walk this out alone. There is someone you can talk to right now. Text 741741 or call 1-800-273-8255 to receive free and confidential support. If you know someone who is considering suicide, you can call these numbers and get resources from professionals who care.

There is always somewhere to turn. There is always another way.

The key is not to hesitate. If you need help, ask for it. There is nothing shameful about it. It takes a real act of courage to reach out before you or a loved one does something that can never be taken back.

Suicide awareness has never been higher

In June of 2018, the suicides of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade shocked the world. They were both universally beloved, and it was heartbreaking to lose such admired people in the same week.

The social media outcry was incredible. So many opened up and told the stories of the pain of losing loved ones. Stories of survivors of attempted suicide came from all over the world. Many people were saying …

I was struggling too.

I’m so glad I sought help.

Suicide awareness matters because it removes the stigma. If you told a friend you were trying to walk around with a broken leg and you kept falling, they would be confused. They would say something like, “You should go to the hospital and get help. Right now.”

But sometimes we struggle silently with suicidal thoughts. We are ashamed of the backlash or embarrassment or misunderstanding — misunderstandings of what you’re actually going through. You can feel shame as if you’re alone with these thoughts. This is why awareness of the real struggle matters. It’s why realizing that you are not alone in your struggle is so important.

Suicide is an attempt to solve a problem that seems impossible to solve in any other way.

But the truth is …

There’s always another way. Suicide is never the answer.

Who Suffers From Suicidal Thoughts?

Business People
The will to succeed is overpowering for some, and the pressure can be all-consuming. There is never time to stop and process.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing
A University of Rochester survey of an American Sign Language (ASL) deaf community discovered higher rates of suicide were common.

Disaster Survivors
An extensive study by modern medicine showed that suicidal behavior increases following natural disasters.

Men
Men are four times more likely than women to kill themselves, and 77 percent of U.S. suicides are completed by men, the CDC said.

Loss Survivors
Those who have lost someone to suicide are 80 percent more likely to drop out of school or quit their jobs, and 64 percent more likely to attempt suicide themselves.

Everyone
Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S.

You are not alone. Many have suffered from suicidal thoughts.

TALKING HELPS
The crisis center reports, “Research indicates that talking openly and responsibly about suicide lets a person know they do not have to be alone, that there are people who want to listen and who want to help. Most people are relieved to finally be able to talk honestly about their feelings.”

There is someone you can talk to right now. You can text 741741 or call 1-800-273-8255.

FAITH MATTERS
The American Addiction Center states, “Research suggests that in the United States, individuals without religious affiliation have correspondingly higher suicide rates. Involvement with a religion provides a social support system, a direct way to cope with stressors, a sense of purpose and/or hope, and may lead to a stronger belief that suicide is wrong.”

PRAYER WORKS
There have been countless stories of those who have talked about how they could sense the prayers from others when struggling with suicide. Many others have talked about how when there was nowhere else to turn, they turned to God.

He is always there. He is always listening. God is with you — so is a community of trained professionals willing to talk. Please don’t take this on alone.

Take time to pray. Just reach out to someone who would love to talk with you. There is hope. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

There is ALWAYS a better way. Anyone struggling right now is in our prayers. Your life matters so much.