A response to “Stop Ignoring Suicide”

Personally, I agree with the person who wrote the letter to the editor “Stop Ignoring Suicide” in the Sept. 3, 1999 edition. The very first time a family member or friend even merely mentions suicide, you as a caring person or anyone for that matter should immediately step in and have a discussion, whether that person uttering the threats want sto hear it or not.

The way I see it, especially when it comes to family members, particularly an offspring, it’s written off as form of retaliation against parents to get attention.

Well maybe we should give them the attention that those types of threats deserve, such as immediately discussing the reasons for why they’re uttering those types of words. Secondly, take them at the soonest possible time to a counselling session somewhere, even if it means your family physician, because after all, suicide is simply and only a coward’s way of dealing with problems.

It takes a bigger man or woman to go forward and to deal with their problems, with some help of course, but that surely beats ending it all and then having your family deal with the embarrasment of being unable to anwer the question why.

But you must rememember it takes immediate action, the very first time those words are ever uttered, because by shaking off the first time, it will be even easier to shake it off the second time until it’s way too late.

Never ever take those types of words lightly, especially when it comes from a youngster who hasn’t experienced life yet, let alone even to have seen a mere percentage of it. Words come and go but suicide never will. Suicide is definitely a permanent situation.

When really looked at, it’s one of those things that absolutely no one really means to have happen. Words are easy to save, but sometimes actions aren’t so easy.

When alcohol is a factor, then you as a parent must truly and honestly take a good long hard look at yourself and who you hang with, because if you have children you know as well as the rest of us that they copy everything and anything that us as parents do. It’s a proven fact.

Kids who have smokers as parents will grow up to smoke, the same goes with drinkers, abusers and many many other factors. So remember, if those first threatening words are ever uttered, its your responsibility to take action whether you’re the parent, the friend or even a stranger. There are many ways of prevention.

Don’t be afraid to use any and all means of helping, because the way I see it, if everyone helps a little bit, no matter how meaningless it may seem, you may get a surprise one day when a young person comes to you and says “thanks you really made me understand how important life really is.”

Thank you for letting me express my thoughts, I like this method of getting my words across.

Bruce Arnold
Iqaluit