Suicide is an awful thing that happens. People may have suicidal tenancies, such as, slitting wrists, while others do more extremes, like hanging themselves or overdosing on pills.
Here are some facts/stats for the United States:
"Health care use
* Number of emergency department visits for self-inflicted injury: 594,000
Source: National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2006 Emergency Department Summary, table 13
Mortality
All suicides
* Number of deaths: 33,300
* Deaths per 100,000 population: 11.1
* Cause of death rank: 11
Firearm suicides
* Number of deaths: 16,883
* Deaths per 100,000 population: 5.6
Suffocation suicides
* Number of deaths: 7,491
* Deaths per 100,000 population: 2.5
Poisoning suicides
* Number of deaths: 6,109
* Deaths per 100,000 population: 2.0
(Source: Deaths: Final Data for 2006, tables B, 18)"
(The above stats/facts are a courtesy of http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/suicide.htm)
I can sit here and post facts and stats, but this topic is a near and dear topic to my heart. I won't disclose any names here out of respect to the families.
But at this time last year, June 17, 2009 to be exact, a close and personal friend of mine hung herself, no one had any clue as to what she was planning. He younger sister, in the 7th grade at the time, found her hanging. There was no note, and no definitive answer to why she chose to do this. We were all devastated upon hearing the news, and we had a memorial service and well over 1,000 people showed up to the memorial service. She was well loved by everyone who knew her. Every time you had come into contact with her you couldn't help but to be smiling.
A few months later, in February or 2010, another close friend of mine killed herself. She overdosed on some pills and passed away. I had seen her a few days earlier and everything seemed fine, but I guess one can be fooled by looks. We had a small memorial service for her as well.
That's why I wanted to bring some attention to this subject. Some may brush the topic off as the person being "selfish," or "cowardly." But whatever you may think, you may never know how much one may truly be suffering and if they're planning to do anything about it, such as suicide. It effects everyone who knew the person, and it stays with you. You truly never know the impact of what your words or actions can do to someone. So I ask all of you who are reading this, please do not take this topic lightly. It is not a light subject, and all I ask is to reach a hand out to one another, because a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on, or even an ear to listen may make a world of difference to those in need.
***NOTE IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP (In the U.S.) CALL 1-800-273-8255 ITS THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE OR CALL 1-800-784-2433 (ANOTHER PREVENTION LINE), ALL LINES ARE OPEN 24/7, THEY'RE AVAILABLE 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR, AND ALL CALLS ARE TOLL FREE***