I want to die. Life isn’t worth living. I can’t go on like this. You may not feel like this right now, but you probably know someone who does. The U.S. suicide rate is the highest it’s been in 30 years. It’s up to those of us in a good space to help those in a dark one. We can’t erase all the negativity in the world–we don’t control oppression, war, power-hungry dictators, or devastating disease. But we can keep a positive attitude around others (we never know when an affirmative word or action is just what the person we’re with needs). And we can speak up against public people who constantly spew negativity.
In everyday life we can watch for suicide warning signs (see http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/learn/warningsigns), keep the Suicide Prevention Hotline number (800-273-8255) handy to give to an at-risk person, and lend him/her our cell phone to call immediately.
Together, giving of ourselves and positive, concerned actions can stop that suicide rate from increasing and bring hopeless people back into the light.