Have you ever been depressed? Have you ever been so depressed that you felt like you would be better off dead? Have you ever felt worthless or had the thought of harming yourself? Well if you answered yes to any of these questions, you are probably having suicidal thoughts. Suicide is the intentional taking of one’s own life and it is the third leading cause of death in the United States.
The 46th Annual National Suicide Prevention Week was Sunday, September 6th to Saturday, September 12th and here are some intriguing statistics. Everyday, approximately 123 Americans die by suicide. The highest suicide rates in the U.S. are among whites, American Indians and Alaska natives. There is one death by suicide in the U.S. every twelve minutes. Firearms are the most used method of suicide amongst males and females are more likely than males to have suicidal thoughts. Females experience depression twice as many times as men and they also attempt suicide three times more often than males. Suicide is more common between the ages of 15 to 24 years of age.
From personal experience, I have experienced depression and I also have had thoughts of harming myself. I had childhood trauma from my father to people being in and out my life. At one point in time, I hated my father because he was the reason why I was so angry at the world. I even hated myself and I just felt like I should not be here. I kept getting mentally weak as I aged and when I turned 15, I had my first suicide attempt. I knew then that I was battling depression and I felt like no one could pick me up out of it. I just felt so weak and I just wanted to run away from all of my problems but when I turned 19, I knew that it was time to let go of that trauma and hurt.
I started to go to counseling and my father and I had a conversation about my issues and since that day my life has been nothing but great. I have gotten closer to God and with him, anything is possible. Mental health is important and I just took mine for granted. I always pushed my problems to the side or I would tell myself that it was alright but knowing that I was hurting and crying for help. I am so glad that I can finally be free and be me.
I feel like I can help people who go through these things because I know how it feels to be empty. I want to be able to touch a precious soul and try to save them from that darkness. I learned from my counselor that you should feel your emotions because when you push them to the side, you will blow up. I just want to be able to save someone and get them the help that they need. No one should ever feel like they are alone, or they will never make it out of the storm.
If I could I would save a life a day. I know that life will get rough but just remember that you are loved and that you have a purpose in life. God put you on this Earth for a reason and He has His plan for you. Whenever you are having a bad day, just look up towards the sky and say a short prayer. It might seem like the problem is still there but just know that God will handle it.
If you’re ever feeling suicidal, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-8255 or you can go to the Walter Washington Administration Building here on Alcorn’s campus on the 3rd floor in room 305. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm by appointment only and you can only schedule an appointment via phone.