The Silent Struggle
Last night, I came across a heartbreaking story on the local news about a 17-year-old boy, with ADHD, who took his own life. He'd been isolated in college. It hit me deeply, bringing back memories of my own experiences with suicide. I’ve been around it twice, and while each situation is unique, the pain and devastation it leaves behind are all too familiar. I can’t help but think about what his family must be going through right now. It is a silent struggle, made worse, because it's not something people talk about. Losing a child is an unimaginable loss, one that no parent should ever have to endure.
Grief to suicide is overwhelming
I know firsthand how overwhelming the grief can be. There’s a lot of hurt and pain to endure, to work through. The weight of losing someone to suicide is heavy, and the trauma that follows isn’t something you always understand, but it's real. It’s a presence that lingers, shaping the lives of those left behind, in ways that are sometimes hard to describe. I resonate deeply.
It is in times of such profound loss that understanding of others can make all the difference. Sometimes, all someone needs is to feel seen, heard, and understood. It is in those moments of being able to connect that healing can begin.
Trauma around Covid-19
Trauma is cumulative. Each traumatic situation you experience adds up, and seeps into everyday life. Trauma isn't tangible, it's not something you can see, but it's there and it's real. The past few years have been especially challenging for many of us. Covid-19 has changed how we interact with each other, and how we live our lives. There are real struggles out there.
The isolation, the uncertainty and the fear has taken its toll on all of us, especially on our mental health. For those already struggling, and we don't always know that we are, the pandemic created an even steeper hill to climb. The support systems many relied on were disrupted, making it harder to cope with life’s challenges.
Conclusion: We need to talk openly
There is a lack of support out there. Support systems needs to be in place. Each of us need to talk openly about mental health and the impact of trauma; however that trauma looks. Let's talk about suicide. We need to create spaces where people feel safe to share their struggles without fear of judgment. It’s through this collective effort that we can start to heal, not just as individuals, but collectively and in the community.
