It’s fascinating to me that the thing I see most often on social media when celebrities commit suicide is something along the lines of, “Hey y’all if you’re ever feeling depressed or suicidal, call this toll free phone number!”
I’m sure the Nat’l Suicide Prevention Lifeline has helped many, many people. I’m not discrediting the work they do. But I think we can love our neighbors a little better than trying to just point them toward a phone number.
I know that if I read these kind of tweets several years ago when I was perpetually fighting suicidiality, I would have felt like everyone’s solution for me was to be pawned off on someone else.
If you’re depressed and worried it could turn suicidal, please talk to someone you love or trust.
Heck, I’ll be your friend. I’m in a wedding today and out of town tomorrow, but I’ll hang ASAP, and we’ll talk about why you feel the way you do. Cuz you certainly don’t deserve to.
Heck, I’ll be your friend. I’m in a wedding today and out of town tomorrow, but I’ll hang ASAP, and we’ll talk about why you feel the way you do. Cuz you certainly don’t deserve to.
There is tons of room for grace and growth in understanding those unlike you, but we need to be self-aware—how we respond to this stuff can do lots of damage if we aren’t careful.
Hear me out: if you’re absolutely incapable of listening and loving, then direct them to a professional. But I think much of our hurt, isolation, and numbness can be hashed out in the context of close friendship.
May we do better, love better, listen better.
