If you find yourself soul-searching, know you are not alone. If at this moment you find yourself asking Why, please know, you are not alone.

It’s in moments like these when our sense of humanity is forced to feel. Oftentimes those feelings are confusion, mourning, and grief which can have us clawing for a simplistic answer. Yet, humanity is anything but simple. As humans, we try to find ways to make meaning or force reason in order to comfort our own pains. To calm our own fears we may say phrases like “it’s a permanent solution to a temporary problem” even though I know nothing of the problems most of you face. Even though you probably know little to nothing of my own problems. We say these things because they ease our troubled minds.

Sometimes our grief can push people away by making statements that show how hopeless we may feel. Sometimes we find ourselves thinking people will never seek help. I am here to tell you, I have witnessed the opposite. I have seen people look for help. People who believe in help seek help. People who are believed in seeking help. We can all offer help. I ask you, how often do we? How often do we offer it without judgment?

No person’s lifetime could or should ever be described or shortened down to a singular reason, cause, or moment. For WE are thousands of thoughts, millions of feelings, billions of breaths across our own unique lifetimes… no matter how long or short-lived. And NO person should be stripped of any moment filled with their life simply because of the things everyone or anyone else may not understand about them.

There is no simple answer here because life is anything but simple. People are complicated, and the thoughts we have belong only to ourselves.

One of life’s most tragic complexities is that of suicide.

Suicide is preventable. You, yes YOU, have the power to help prevent suicide IF you have the knowledge. Suicide prevention knowledge is life.

Do you know?

As always,

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or actions, know you are not alone. Suicide is a complex issue, and we want you to know some resources are freely available. You can reach a trained volunteer that will talk with you, free of judgment, about whatever you may be struggling with or to learn how to assist a loved one in need at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255).

You can also text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

Or, if you are at immediate risk, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.