Loss

Since, I started my campaign to raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (see blog post here).  I am overwhelmed with the number of people who have contacted me and shared with me their stories of loss.  Many of my friends have been affected by suicide.  Some have lost siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends, and even their pastor to suicide.  Some have family members and friends that have attempted suicide and lived.  This fundraiser has taken on a whole new meaning.  Even if I don't raise a ton of money for the charity, I have people talking - talking about how it feels to be affected by suicide, sharing the love they felt for their loved ones, and simply seeking comfort in someone else who has been through the same thing.  I find this so comforting and at the same time heartbreaking that so many of my friends have suffered similar losses.  I find it sad that many feel ashamed to talk about it.  We've got to try to as a society remove the stigmas of mental illness and encourage people in crisis to seek help before it is too late.   

90% of people who die by suicide have a diagnosable and treatable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death.  

I humbled by the kindness and genorosity of others that I have seen in the past few days.  In the chaos of life, we all have so much to be thankful for.