Suicide is something that needs to be brought out of the dark and into the light, so that we can band together to help prevent many more suicides. 

Suicide is one of the topics that is not discussed openly and this is a significant reason why many people commit suicide. 

What most people never consider is the infinite amount of pain and suffering that those left behind experience after their loved one, friend, coworker has killed themselves. The act of killing yourself is instant when compared to the DECADES of pain, anguish, sadness, GUILT, anxiety, worry, and many other negative emotions. 

THE BIGGEST LIE ABOUT SUICIDE, IS THAT EVERYONE WILL BE BETTER OFF WHEN THEY ARE GONE! The reality is everyone will be MUCH WORSE off after they're gone. 

If you have anyone in your life that is consistently down, sad, saying things like "I can't do XXXXXX anymore". Any final statement that is even indirectly saying that they can't take 'it' anymore, they're fed up, they are at their wit's end  - DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!  Don't just wonder if they are okay. And don't just ask them how they are doing, and simply accept whatever answers they give. Ask other leading questions that force them to say more than yes or no. 

If you are worried about them, tell them so. Tell them how much you value them AND how much it would hurt you if they were gone. If you are still worried about them, don't just go on your way and hope for the best because you MIGHT be the last person to talk to them. 

If they are a family member, reach out to their closest family members and share your concerns and what they said to you. The family might not be seeing what you are, but will recognize it once you share your concerns. Band together and make a concerted effort to help your family member work through their malaise. 

If they are a friend or coworker, reach out to others in their circle and share your concerns with them. 

Regardless of your connection with this person, make sure that you always focus on helping them fight the suicide demons. The majority of people in their situation don't understand the ramifications of what they are contemplating, but if you can express that to them in a phrase something like this: I understand that you are in pain and that you can't see a way through the trials you are facing right now, but I also understand that you would never intentionally hurt your friends and family. But you need to understand just how much your choice of ending your life will hurt everyone around you. 

If you know anyone who has battled the suicide demons already, you need to get them to talk to each other. I have been fighting those demons for over 3 decades and I know from personal experience that you never stop battling the demons. You might be able to fend them off for weeks or months at a time, but they are always there in the back of your mind just waiting for that brief moment of despair. As soon as that despair hits you, the demons are right there to pounce on you. I used to struggle every day and for a time every hour with despair over my trials and tribulations. It's not relevant what my challenges were / are because they are unique to the individual. But they can wrap themselves around your throat and squeeze so hard it feels like you are suffocating, even though you are breathing normally. It's a war that rages in your mind, which is why it is very difficult to recognize in a lot of people facing this life altering decision. We can only see the facade they show us, like the happy faces of paper that people are holding up in a antidepressant commercial. It's not their true face, but they are worried about what others will do or say if they were to expose the truth. 

Please take the time to really look at those you interact with, and try to determine what their state of mind really is. Talk WITH them not 'to' them, because they will recognize the lecture you are about to unload on them and they will shut down and completely ignore everything you say. By talking with them it is a two way conversation and they will be able to sense that you are really LISTENING rather than just 'hearing' them. Make sure you are asking questions in a way that they will have to give answers other than just yes and no. 

By taking these steps and making the effort to learn the true state of mind of everyone who might be even slightly depressed, so you can be there to help walk them back from the cliff / balcony / roof / etc. edge. It is very likely that you could save one or more lives as a result. That would be SPECTACULAR for everyone to be able to recognize those who need help before they make the fateful choice. In some instances it could be a significant number of lives that are saved. 

For all of the Christians:  remember that when you are in the service of your fellow 'man', you are in the service of Heavenly Father.  I pray that everyone who makes the effort to help those around them in this way, will be blessed to know the right things to say, blessed with the patience of Job, blessed with the ability to effectively communicate the details of the situation to friends and family as appropriate, blessed to know when they need to take immediate action and call for an ambulance or preacher and the power of discernment to know which assistance to seek out urgently to best help their person, and blessed with the faith that they will be able to do all of these things even if they normally are incredibly shy & introverted. I pray for these things and more but the thing I pray for the most, is that you will reach your person / people in time to save their life / lives. Amen

*****  Please note that although I normally prevent my posts from being shared, in this case I feel it is best to spread it as far and wide as possible to help save the maximum number of lives possible. *****