T
TOCC
Guest
Im not entirely sure how to start this thread but this is a subject close to my heart, mental health issues are far more prominent in society then many are aware. One thing I've come to learn, is that mental illness knows no boundaries, it doesn't matter how strong, tough, intelligent or successful you are, mental illness can strike anyone.
First time a mate took his life I didn't know how to act, we had just left school and lacked the maturity to really comprehend what had actually occurred. We didn't speak much of it, and still to do this day his name rarely comes up anymore.
Similarly when the next 2 took their lives, we spoke of the demons they must have had and justified it to ourselves as an issue which targeted them, an occurrence or event which they experienced that was specific to them, it put us at ease believe that this event or experience wasn't one that the rest of us had to endure and thus we weren't at risk.
More recently a further 2 have passed away, and my reaction is more anger then grief, I believe im a fairly rational(some on here may disagree) and analytical person, but it's something I can't rationalise no matter how many times I think it over, and I think the anger is over the lack of solutions and actions over this issue.
I'm frustrated, that we have this preventable means of death that isn't getting spoken of or addressed, we speak of the darkness or demons yet i tend to feel we as a society trivialise it, we don't understand it so we don't talk about it. Yet, now I feel I'm at the point where we need to start discussing this more openly, in the hope that increased awareness may tempt someone at risk to reach out, or at least build awareness so some may be able to identify the signs and symptoms..
Anyway, probably more a monologue then a discussion starter..
First time a mate took his life I didn't know how to act, we had just left school and lacked the maturity to really comprehend what had actually occurred. We didn't speak much of it, and still to do this day his name rarely comes up anymore.
Similarly when the next 2 took their lives, we spoke of the demons they must have had and justified it to ourselves as an issue which targeted them, an occurrence or event which they experienced that was specific to them, it put us at ease believe that this event or experience wasn't one that the rest of us had to endure and thus we weren't at risk.
More recently a further 2 have passed away, and my reaction is more anger then grief, I believe im a fairly rational(some on here may disagree) and analytical person, but it's something I can't rationalise no matter how many times I think it over, and I think the anger is over the lack of solutions and actions over this issue.
I'm frustrated, that we have this preventable means of death that isn't getting spoken of or addressed, we speak of the darkness or demons yet i tend to feel we as a society trivialise it, we don't understand it so we don't talk about it. Yet, now I feel I'm at the point where we need to start discussing this more openly, in the hope that increased awareness may tempt someone at risk to reach out, or at least build awareness so some may be able to identify the signs and symptoms..
Anyway, probably more a monologue then a discussion starter..