suicide awareness day, sept 10th

Suicide Awareness Day, officially called World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), is tomorrow, but since I'm leaving for Prague, I decided to treat it as a Monday post and post it the day before. A year ago, when I returned from my Calabria vacay, I didn't have too much time to somehow join the project, especially not to do something very creative. I wrote "love" on my wrist as I read somewhere on the internet that it's what you're supposed to do on September 10th to show your support for people who struggle with suicidal thoughts and raise awareness of how big of a deal are suicide rates nowadays. I knew it was nothing special, but it's definitely something that each of us can do. And if you can show it to some larger group of people, it's a success! I am glad that this year I can use my blog to do so. Until the very end, I did not know how to approach this subject. I felt as if it would be easy to overdo it, though I did not want to do some dramatic pictures which people would be afraid to even look at. So I decided to repeat last year's act of participance, this time with the help of AJ as my model. I'm not going to drop any big numbers on your heads. We all know what we're talking about here. 20th leading cause of death, in both genders. I'm realistic, but in a way I am also a believer. I truly want to believe that by rasing our voices, we're doing the best we can to help. This year's theme of WSPD is "Stigma: A Major Barrier for Suicide Prevention." Please visit IASP's official site, where you can learn more about this event, facts and figures or check how you can help locally.

I do not have any personal history to share with you guys. I think we've all had those kind of days. I used to call mine 'the hazy ones'. I wish I had something constructive to say to those who feel too miserable to even think of getting up in the morning. Life gets better. Well, not exactly. Life gets different, though. In awhile, there will be other thoughts occupying your minds, other problems, other ups and downs, but somehow you will find yourself able to face those things. The only way through the storm is right across the center of it, not bailing out, although I really do understand how tempting it sometimes feels like.

Whatever you're going through, wherever you are, know that my thoughts are always with you. I am always here if you need to talk to someone. There is always a person willing to listen to you. Not everything is darkness, but sometimes everyone needs a friendly reminder.

"A semicolon is where the author could have ended the sentence, but didn’t. You’re the author, and your life is the sentence. Don’t end your life. Stay awhile longer. Please, Stay strong." 

"On November 30th wear a black ribbon on your wrist if you have ever self harmed, starved yourself or been suicidal. If you see someone else with one, tell them to stay strong."

By writing “Love” on your arms and wearing something yellow on September 10th, you show support to those who lost someone to suicide, or have suicidal thoughts themselves. Please, take your time to inform as many people as you can and join yourself.

suicidehotlines.com ǀ befriends worldwide ǀ list of international help lines