National Suicide Prevention Week

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

The week of September 7-13 is National Suicide Prevention Week.  We're getting on the tail end of it, but I feel it's important to post the above number, and to make people aware that help is out there.

Something that special needs parents often struggle with are feelings of despair, loneliness, and anguish.  Parents that have a special needs child go through a grief cycle that is very similar to the grief cycle that someone goes through when they've lost a loved one.  Upon finding out their child's diagnosis they deal with denial, anger, bargaining, depression,  and if they're lucky, acceptance and then they adapt.  Some people never make it past the anger phase. Some people get stuck in the depression phase.  For some people it's difficult to gain perspective on a life you never thought you would have. Some of these parents remain overwhelmed with what to them seems an insurmountable task:  raising a child that will remain a child for the rest of their life and yours.

It's also a myth that only teenagers commit suicide. And it's also a myth that the suicidal person is doing it to exact revenge or because they're angry (see suicidology.org). Most people are in extreme emotional pain.  They feel trapped, useless, helpless, and that the world might actually benefit if they were gone.  They will speak of being a burden to loved ones, of loved ones being better off if they weren't there anymore, and so on.

I urge everyone to be more in tune with friends and family members.  No man is an island. God put us here to help each other, not make things harder.  Don't be quick to judge and don't assume that you know the cause of what may appear to you to be standoffishness, aloofness, plain rudeness,  or an unwillingness to communicate. Some people are getting by minute by minute.  Some people are ready to let go.

I also want to remind everyone that you can offer support, you can let them know you love them, encourage them to get help, get them help, include them, involve them, be positive, and pray. If you're a teenager or child reading this, you can call the hotline number on this page for advice, you can tell a teacher or school counselor, or other trusted adult.  The important thing is that you tell someone, and don't try to fight the fight alone.