Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988

Editor: I missed 9/10/2025 Suicide Prevention Day, but I think this is important information and we don’t need a designated date to inform people about suicide.

D. S. Mitchell

Statistics 

If you are between 15-35, suicide is the second leading cause of death for your age group.  For all age groups, suicide is responsible for more deaths than murder and natural disasters, combined.  Men take their own lives four times as often as women. Many men sadly would rather be dead than appear ‘weak.’

Left Behind

As you can see, suicide is not a rare, or isolated event. It is very real and definitely permanent, and it leaves those who are left behind, in utter despair. For them the suicide event is plagued by stigma, guilt and self-recrimination. The most common question from those left behind is, “what could I have done differently?”

Depression and Suicide

I was a Registered Nurse for many years and worked in Crisis Psychiatry for a large part of that time.  In that role I saw the face of depression and suicide, day after day. I have held the hand of a man who could not see beyond his own pain.  I have sat next to a vet who couldn’t stop shaking from the night terror of PTSD. Mental illness and various addictions are often part and parcel with the depression and the overwhelming inner pain. But, like most self medicating, the drinking and drugging only worsens the situation.

Too Close to Home

My half brother, my father’s son from his first marriage, was 28 years old with a beautiful wife and a happy, healthy one-year-old son.  He should have been on top of the world, with everything to live for, but he was suffering from depression and on that dark day in 1962 he came home early from work, locked up the house, went into the garage taped around the garage door and the several windows where he thought  air might escape. Next he stuck a hose in the tailpipe of his car and then took the hose with him and climbed into the front seat, rolled up the car windows, and turned on the engine.  Kenny’s death devastated my father. I truly believe he never got over it. He carried that heartbreak with him until his death ten years later, in 1972.

Pain is Subjective

Emotional pain is very subjective. To someone other than the psychologically challenged individual, the person’s feelings may seem to be completely disproportionate to the person’s life. That dichotomy of ‘reality’ and ‘feelings’ often  creates guilt within the person because of their inability to cope with life’s challenges.

Living Every Day

If you are one of the many millions who have contemplated suicide, but sought help and are still here, I am so glad you decided to stay and I hope you are satisfied with that decision.  To stay, to live every day allotted to you, is to honor your future self, to give that future self a chance at happiness. For what ever reasons you chose to stay; for your family, for your faith, I understand it takes great courage to stay and continue to face your daily pain. The world can bring extraordinary joy and incredible sadness but I believe sticking it out is the right choice. Please stay. Tomorrow is worth living, and every day after that, too

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms please seek help.

• Talking about self harm, wanting to die, or kill oneself
• Describing life as “hopeless” without purpose, being “trapped”
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Increased use of alcohol or drugs
• Noticeably agitated, anxious or reckless
• Expressing feelings of unbearable pain
• Extreme mood swings
• Displays of rage
• Plans to “get revenge.”
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Withdrawing from normal relationships, isolation

Please, if you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, or are showing any of the listed signals, talk to them, ask how you can help. Tell someone, that has influence on the person about your concerns. Keep the person engaged and involved; stop by, call.