With September being suicide prevention month and me being one that that has dealt with loss of loved ones, I wanted to write on what needs to be reminded most of all in our schools.
I just recently dealt with learning of one of my family members experiencing those hurtful words of,”Why don’t you go kill yourself.”
These words was spoken from a child to another. Words hurt.
Issues of feeling like you don’t belong either start in the home, at school, or even at the workplace, trying to please or meet others expectations.
So many stay quiet due to fear of being judged for not feeling like they are worthy enough, or to be picked on for getting another in trouble.
Some parents shrug it off as no big deal, or they say, “They are only doing it for attention.” Or, they instantly get them to the doctor, where soon an addiction will foster as they start relying on a pill to make them happy, instead of sitting down and talking.
Those spoken words of hate fester in one’s mind. In my last article on “sticks and stones,” I said how we all try daily not to allow others words bring us down, but they do.
In 1 Samuel 31:4, Saul took his own life, and in 2 Samuel 17:23, Ahithophel hung himself.
Suicide has been since the beginning, but through out the years, more and more happen.
Depression gets the best of us. Words taunt us. As a parent, we try to protect our kids the best.
The hardest part is being that extra parent that reminds young teens they are worth living, to see scars of pain where young girls cut themselves, or see them turn to addiction searching to numb the pain.
We need to be more involved, because those words, the brokenness of homes, families torn apart — it all takes a toll.
I was a bonus mom to two young, fine, hardworking men and good fathers, and in 2021 they both left this world thinking it would make things better.
The grief that remains in their families and friends, it is real.
Every day since then, I try to stay connected to all the things you think you understand. There is so much to learn to help prevent it and to help deal with the grief.
Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death, along with overdose in the top 10. In 2021 alone, 48,183 Americans died by suicide with 1.7 million attempts. On average, there are 132 suicides per day.
If you are or know someone that is struggling, you can call or text 988 or text TALK to 741741.
Never stop praying. In memory of Cory and Alex Smith, and Robbie Combs.
Holly Rivera is a member of Celebrate Recovery, does outreach for Barry and Lawrence County Narcan Outreach and helps lead recovering addicts in paths forward. She is 16 years clean from methamphetamine and 3 years sober from alcohol, as well as a public speaker on the topic of addiction and recovery. Rivera may be reached at hollyrivera21@gmail.com.
