I had this friend once. Her name was Lily. She was a year senior to me in college. We used to attend the same church, used to eat lunch together, smiled whenever we saw one another at the hallways, talked about our faith and life and the sort. The little things.
Lily committed suicide eight years ago. Gun to her head. Lily took her own life and, for the love of god, I still don’t know why. The thing is, I don’t think anybody ever will.
Lily was a quiet girl. She was always calm, collected; her front suggesting she had her life together; her best foot forward; the perfect facade.
We never saw the signs. Her depression was something she kept to herself and you can just see the denial on her parents’ faces during her funeral.
We never recognized her signals. Or perhaps we brushed it off.
Remembering Lily today, it feels like a distant memory; one that’s haunting and painful, yet equally out of reach.
If you know someone who’s exhibiting the warning signs of suicidal tendencies, one of the best things you can do is to reach out as a friend, a listener and possibly a helping hand.
Depression is difficult to live with, and although not everyone’s immediately suicidal, this very real state of mind is extremely damaging to one’s emotional and mental health.
If you’re the one suffering from depression, well then… I’m at a loss of words. Just hold on, kid, till that train makes Santa Fe.
I have come across this article from PsychCentral.com, Worst Things to Say to Someone Who’s Depressed. If you are unsure on how to approach someone who exhibits signs of depression, maybe this will help.
Below are non-profit organizations, which I am not associated with, but I find their content and message genuine and refreshingly helpful.
International Association for Suicide Prevention
Active Minds, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising mental health awareness among college students, on the peer level.
To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) is an American non-profit organization[1] which aims to present hope for people struggling with addiction, depression, self-injury and thoughts of suicide while also investing directly into treatment and recovery.