Suicide Can Happen to Anyone

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The stigma that surrounds suicide can be rather unfortunate at times. People who need help may not get help because they do not fit into the mold that society has put suicide. People who suffer from suicide ideation or do the unthinkable, are categorized as “crazy”, “depressed”, “bipolar”, or labeled other things that tend to have negative connotations. The truth is that anyone with a brain can develop suicidal tendencies aside from the uncompassionate classifications that are typically placed on people who commit suicide.

Everyday people who have chemical imbalances that are unavoidable, battle hereditary mental health disorders, or perfectionists can find themselves thinking that suicide is their solution if they continue follow the delusion that this does not happen to “normal” people. Anyone anywhere can be subjected to thinking that ending their life is the best idea for everyone involved without getting the message out there – suicide can happen to any person who thinks they do not have a way out.

In August, The Los Angeles Times reported about 30-year-old Pastor Andrew Stoecklein from Chino, California who started a sermon series in his church that was intended to give biblical solution to mental illness. Suicide is a sermon subject that is often avoided because it is considered a taboo topic and because churches think that these problems are repairable through prayer. Stoecklein, however, had just come off a 4 month leave of absence due to panic attacks and depression and wanted to get out the message that “there is hope, and there is help available.” He listed statistics of suicide and resources for those who may have been experiencing suicidal thoughts. The irony – he committed suicide just 12 days later.

Obviously, Stoecklein had his own “demons” that he did not deal with, but in the aftermath of his unexpected death, he has received backlash for his actions because he was a pastor. He was criticized for “knowing better” and his family was blamed for not getting him the extensive help that he needed.

The truth of the matter is that most of us do not have the awareness that we need to recognize when someone is in danger of committing suicide. We have unintentional denial in what is happening right before us because we do not want to believe that this is happening to us. Suicide can happen to the best of us, the worst of us, and all of those in between if we are tormented internally without a way to resolve our issues. Instead of being in judgement about suicide, we should be aware that this is happening more in our society and we need to be more supportive to those who need our help.

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention hotline at: 1-800-273-8255

National Suicide Prevention Hotline (24 hour a day)

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Chat online

Crisis Text Line (24 hours a day)

Text 741-741 from anywhere in the USA, anytime, about any type of crisis

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