I lost a friend to suicide. Before that I lost a friend to overdose. And before that to a traumatic car accident. Some less informed argue ODs are suicides. Not when the junkie boyfriend tells you "she took less than half what she normally takes." She died from fentanyl.
Back to my friend who did die from suicide, she was a remarkable person, artist, & Steemian.
Here's the graphic art, "City Song", and beautiful galaxy painting from her.
Her coloring books are no longer on the market & I have them both. Coveted because they conveyed some people are messed up and deeply traumatized. She was gutsy; no one else was gonna tackle the projects she did in her books. Also conveyed that what a woman looks like "down there" is beautiful. No one has any business making comments about it & if you're intimate with someone who is making you feel uncomfortable about downstairs, get rid of them. They don't belong in your life.
Back to my header photo. I argue that the right column isn't just "suicidal" & encompasses suicidal ideations as well. Ideations are wishes to die or no longer be here. Actively suicidal means you're planning it. I have a trauma background too and have had ideations. It's true, to the public at large being suicidal and expressing it is viewed as attention seeking. However, it is NOT, it's a cry for help, that is all too often ignored.
When I've had ideations and expressed it, I was largely ignored and people were irritated with me. After all, who would do that? Someone who is alone, isolated, and has no shoulder to lean on. It's also true these feelings are easily dismissed. NEVER dismiss someone feeling this way. It's the worst thing you could possibly do. I've had a few suicidal friends & I have never dismissed them because I know how bad that hurts and if you aren't strong enough; you might not survive it.
Finally since it's seen as attention seeking nobody thinks they'll actually do it. Until they do. Point is don't dismiss people. You may end up regretting that for the rest of life. **However, if someone chooses suicide, it is NOT your fault.
You may regret not taking them seriously but suicide is a deeply personal CHOICE.
Thanks for reading and the floor is open for comments & discussion. Thanks to The Depression Project for supplying head graphic.
