Suicide, semicolons, and living

Back in junior high, I had my best friend approach me at my locker. She handed me her razor blade that she was going to use to slit her wrist. She stopped because she heard my voice tell her not to. About 25 years ago, a young lady came to my door with her wrists slit, fortunately not deep enough to end her life, but it was still attempted. Throughout my years, I have heard stories of people taking their life. I also had two of my kids commit suicide, although not biological, it still hurts to know they were in so much pain that they didn't believe there was any other way. I wasn't there for them when they did it. Two other kids spoke of suicide often, one even needed to go to the hospital because he couldn't shake his feelings, he was desperate.

 Awhile back, I witnessed a man so desperate, he climbed onto an overpass and was going to jump. I saw him holding on. Then, I saw him jump. I later leaned that he actually was jumping to a police officer who was able to help him down and jump to a bus.  But still why didn't he believe there was more to life? Recently, a friend of mine made comments about just wanting it to be over, that she can't go on, and isn't worth the air she breaths. She was desperate. She felt there was nothing left. I cannot even begin to understand how someone can believe suicide is the only option. 

 And then I read this - "I never really wanted to die, I just wanted someone to see how much of a struggle it was for me to live."  And I've also learned about the semicolon in a whole new way - "a semicolon is used when an author could've chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life." Your story is NOT ever. Your life matters. You are seen!

 I can't stop thinking about the point of the first quote "I just wanted someone to know my struggle to live." How do I help people live? How do we help people understand there really is a reason to keep going? How can I lesson their struggle? Because in the middle of the mess, there's not much that can be said to change their mind. I know I'm not the answer. I know I can't save them, BUT can't I help? There has to be something...

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