By: KyAnna Walton
Not age…not race…not gender…not religion: it has no type! It’s the only thing in America that passes no judgment.
“IT” is the one thing America chooses to come together for.
It sees devastation, heartache, anxiety, and flaws. And it preys on those things like a thief in the night. The unfortunate souls affected have no answers as to why they’ve been chosen. Only questions.
HOW…do I make IT stop?
HOW…do I fight IT?
HOW…do I live with IT?
When you criticize, you’re enabling “IT!”
When you carelessly bump into someone without saying excuse me, you’re enabling “IT!”
When you can’t engage in a simple conversation for not being able to take your eyes off your phone, you’re enabling “IT!”
“IT” is suicide; and IT is something most people don’t want to talk about.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, “the ratio of suicide attempts to suicide death in youth is estimated to be about 25:1, compared to about 4:1 in the elderly.”
“Small Oklahoma town rocked after four young people commit suicide in just two months.” —Headline of the Daily Mail in 2016. A 16-year-old committed suicide by gun followed by a 21-year-old, 22-year-old, and an 11-year-old. None of these young adults were related in any way. They all suffered from separate issues. But a gun, no support system, and bullying was the common factor.
“I hate myself and I hate living. I have let everyone down and I feel as though I will never change or never improve,” said 19-year-old, Abraham Biggs. This was a piece of his suicide note before he broadcast his overdose on live stream. Nobody called for help. He was still alone because people thought it was an attention stunt. Some even encouraged him to “get it over with.”
“He probably didn’t want to say ‘Mom somebody is bullying or picking on me’, he just didn’t know how to tell me,” said the mother of eight-year-old, Gabriel Taye. This boy was assaulted and left unconscious two days before his suicide. They beat him unconscious. The school reported nothing!
Eight years old?!
According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, suicide amongst younger children results from a mental disorder. This was not a mental disorder.
Suicide is taking the lives of eight year olds!
At what point do we address this?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S.
But we are too busy hating one another because of skin…because of where we’re born…because of religion…because the President said so!
Suicide sees everything killing our youth. Why can’t we?
People’s hearts are broken. Self-esteem is low. Feeling as if there is no one to turn to.
We’ve ignored this long enough. We can no longer live for ourselves.
We walk past people every day not knowing the next person’s struggle. Too many times we treat others wrong based on what’s going on in our world, not knowing they are battling something of their own. This is something we have to fight together. We’ve let it take too many lives inexcusably.
Compliment someone, ask how their day is, and make an effort to see someone.
Put the phone away and listen, apologize without thought, be kind.
It could be what a person needs to survive that one day!
Show them that they are loved…that they are needed…that they can overcome.
“IT” no longer wins. Love does.
