A New Take on Suicide Prevention
Content Warning: Suicide, Mental Health
Suicide is the 12th leading cause of of death in the US. On average, there are 130 suicides per day.
As a 17-year-old high school junior who has arguably been through more than a normal girl my age should go through, I feel that with the power I hold being a part of the school newspaper it is important that I use this platform to not only help others but bring awareness to real problems that high school students experience in their day to day life. With that being said, would like to take this opportunity to speak about suicide prevention.
I believe that many people experience lows in their lives and although it may feel terrible now, it really does get better. However, I won't sugar coat anything– a lot of the time life can suck. Despite this, I am a very firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Whatever it is that you may be going through now might be for a good reason. I think that life puts us through these bad times in order for us to truly value all of the good things that life has to offer.
However, according to sophomore Maddie Ring, “Suicide cannot be prevented because the actions of other people won’t change the way that you’re feeling … if you’re struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide, those don’t just immediately go away. Some people can fight it [depression or thoughts of suicide] but others can’t … There wont ever truly be a way to prevent suicide.”
However, I disagree. I believe that there is a way to prevent suicide; as someone who has struggled with mental health for many years and has has had suicidal thoughts before, I do think that there are ways to prevent suicide/suicide attempts.
Personally, I think the best form of suicide prevention is looking into the future and imagining yourself achieving all of your dreams. This could mean going to your dream college, playing your favorite sport in college, getting your first apartment, finding your soulmate, getting your dream job etc. Imagine the amount of happiness you will feel when you accomplish these things, not only that but all of the other amazing things that the future holds!
Aside from trying to change your mental state—as we all know how hard that can be sometimes!—there are also numerous online resources that can help those who are in a suicidal state of mind. Lifeline, an online organization dedicated to suicide prevention, offers “24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress [as well as] prevention and crisis resources for you and your loved ones” that can help those who feel like they are otherwise alone.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, self-harm, or even thoughts of suicide it is very important to get help or encourage your peers who may be struggling to get help. Riley’s social worker Mrs. Dunn says, “I am here, please come talk to me. If I am busy, put a note in my box, but talk to somebody [it could be] the suicide hotline, your parents, or a trusted adult that can give you some help¨.
If you are looking for someone to talk to feel free to contact me through email or even in person, I am very nice and I promise I'll give great advice! :)
For other help:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
Riley High School Counselor: Mrs.Dunn (mdunn@sbcsc.k12.in.us)
