Ubiquitous Suicide
I
am convinced that there are more than one kind of knowing/knowledge,
e.g. intellectual knowing, emotional knowing, visceral knowing.
Intellectually I knew that many people have been touched and will be
touched by suicide. I even put in a recent letter: “For every Suicide,
an estimated 8 to 10 lives are severely impacted”. I know that my life
has been impacted by suicide of a close relative, but until I started
getting notes back from people I have invited to take part in a Suicide
Prevention Work Group (another one today) I don’t think I really knew.
Many, many individuals have been touched. People I have had contact
with without ever knowing. It has been eye opening.
Also I knew
that deaths from suicide occurred in all areas of our county, in every
socioeconomic group, but when I started mapping them out I could see
and really know.
There are 40 to 60 deaths by suicide throughout the
county every year. While in the grand scheme of things maybe not huge
numbers, but when you think about it and know it, it is staggering. All
socioeconomic groups, all areas, all ages, more deaths than by homicide
and acts of violence, but those prompt out-cry and calls to action.
Should suicide be any different?”
