Per the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is defined as “defined as death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior.”1https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide Overall, it ranks as the 12th leading cause of death for all ages in the United States; but moves to the #2 slot for ages 10-14 and 25-34 and #3 among 15-24 year olds.
The shadow is the greatest teacher for how to come to the light. ~Ram Dass.
Suffering is Optional
During a meditative exercise while studying to become a registered yoga teacher, I wrote three words on a single sheet of my class journal, Suffering is Optional. That was nearly five years ago and only today has a desire arose to truly uncover its meaning as I battle my own life crisis. Yes, even while trying to extract life lessons from my own fuckeries of life, Spirit – not once but twice – pointed me toward doing a series on suicide.
Of course, I brushed it off but then a few hours later, the topic came back to my mind. On a whim, because I didn’t want to focus on such, I looked up the national holidays for the month of September. Lo and behold, it is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Then in the midst of trying to explore the metaphysical meanings of ending one’s life, I came across a quote from andrewholecek.com:
Buddhism maintains that pain is an unavoidable companion in life, but suffering doesn’t need to be. Suffering is an inappropriate relationship to pain, and the path is largely about learning how to relate to pain properly – and therefore end our suffering.”
For this month (or as long as it takes), we’ll discuss the risk and warning signs physically and emotionally but also address the metaphysical aspects as they relate to the mortality of the soul. Please note that this writer is not a licensed medical professional and does not deem me as such. Below are additional resources, including ways to talk with a licensed mental health professional. #dphealer
Additional Resources:
- FAQ About Suicide via National Institute of Mental Health (Source)
- Suicide Prevention by CDC
- Suicide (Statistics) via NIMH
Need Professional Help?!?
If you or someone else is experiencing chronic stress or depression to the point he/she/they are struggling emotionally, please seek out a trusted friend, family member, or other licensed mental health professional. If immediate help is needed due to suicidal ideation2Suicidal ideation refers to thinking about, considering, or planning suicide., call 911 or use one of the trusted sources.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988; Llame al 988 (para ayuda en español)
Use Lifeline Chat on the web (English only)
The Lifeline provides 24-hour, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
Veterans Crisis Line
Use Veterans Crisis Chat on the web
The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource that connects veterans 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with a trained responder. The service is available to all veterans and those who support them, even if they are not registered with the VA or enrolled in VA healthcare.
Disaster Distress Helpline
Call or text 1-800-985-5990
The disaster distress helpline provides immediate crisis counseling for people experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. The helpline is free, multilingual, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
