Thanks for writing this out.

This could be very helpful for people with problems. Pls share it if you can

Caleigh, your post is very well written. I liked how you included personal comments about your own struggles. This is exactly what the world of mental health needs- transparency and the ability to openly discuss these personal issues. I too have been offended by the “kill yourself” memes and jokes that pop up around our society. It is incredibly insensitive. It is mind boggling to me how people do not understand what a big issue suicide is and why they would throw it around like its a big joke. On the topic of the blue whale challenge, I was horrified to hear that people online were encouraging others to do these horrible things to themselves. Its sickening to think that yet another parent, friend, or family member has to struggle with losing their loved one to suicide. Keep writing and sharing your thoughts, its exactly what this world needs!
You make a great mental health activist, so here’s a link to check out: https://www.nami.org/mentalhealthmonth

wow

Dear Caleigh:
I am appalled with the society we live in. Your post “Kill Yourself,” showed me that our generation is suffering from the lack of compassion and kindness, and I am outraged because if we all cared about each other, we wouldn’t be enduring pain and misery. Suicide is never okay, despite whether people treat it as a joke or discuss it as a serious matter. For someone to experience something so gruesome it compels them to take their own life away, isn’t a laughing matter. We all laugh and joke around here and there, complaining about our lives. Sometimes when a point in our life is too difficult or annoying, we want to “kill ourselves”. But how is any of it okay. We need to embrace each other and help those who are feeling down. We all experienced points in our lives – or maybe we will one day – where all hope feels lost. We can’t let that break us. We can’t give up from everything we have worked so hard for. All the great memories, love found, friendships made, families together, and just overall the happiness we once felt or will feel.
One sentence you wrote that stands out for me is: “Suicide is real.” Three words can have the most impact on a person. Usually, it’s 3 words, 8 letters to someone you are fond of. This sentence stood out to me because of fear. Suicide is seen as a joke and it’s disgusting. What’s worse than a bully, is the bystanders. In this case, life may be the bully to the someone, but fear is always the bystander. We never talk about suicide and we always avoid the subject. We need to stop hiding from the truth because Suicide is real and it’s like a plaque taking over those who have no hope. We don’t understand how people feel, or how they think. We are not telepaths or empaths. No matter how much we believe someone is okay, a part of them could be dying inside. We have to see it from their shoes, about what is real or not real. It’s this hope and drive to live that has gone out their souls, to make them believe that life is just a mask of reality. And that disappearing forever is the answer.
Another sentence that truly affected my perspective about suicide was: “‘the best ways to commit suicide’” It was atrocious! How can we move forward when all we do is keep pulling back? How can we stop an issue if we keep on encouraging it. I know for one that suicide got to a point where people use it for attention. To do such a thing, is horrid because what about those who can’t protect themselves? The people who are driven to take their life away because they are so ashamed of their own identity. How can we be a solution when all we do is add to the problem?!
Thanks for writing this post. It truly made me rethink about how I should treat people and see the world in a different perspective. I should appreciate the moments I live because, others out there are gone because of being misunderstood. But aren’t we all misunderstood? I look forward to seeing what you write next because, you’re writing has brought this emotion out of me that I never knew I had. It really changed me and I thank you for it.

Caleigh-
These statistics are so shocking, and even disapointing. It’s hard to believe that this is going on in our very own community. Like you, I think it’s important we place more of a value on mental health precautions. Here’s an interesting article about this topic https://www.sltrib.com/news/health/2017/11/30/utahs-youth-suicide-rates-growing-at-alarming-pace-new-federal-report-says/

Caleigh,
Wow, these are some extremely shocking statistics. It is so crazy how many people have been affected personally by a mental illness or indirectly affected by a loved one suffering. It is scary to think that this issue is only increasing, not only in our community, but all over the world. It is a very costly thing to go to therapy or for medications, and some insurances do not cover these things. A lot of therapists you have to pay out of pocket which is extremely difficult for some people who really need the help of a therapist. I really love that you have chosen this topic to write about because it hits so close to home for many of us. As you go further into your research, do you think you will look more into the funding and spending on this issue and how it should be adjusted? If you decide to stay on the money aspect I found a website about “paying for care”; it might be helpful http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/paying-care.

Caliigh, I like you post very much and I find your post to very compelling. I also feel too that you can touch on college, like the U.S. and China are such dominant nations that pressure society to be successful in economic and educational education that many teens feel as if they are falling short. I think what you have is impacful and holds true to society and is worth writing about. I think as a society we should learn to accept one another and their should not pass judgement that is based on little matters, like we have bigger issues to look at like Global Warming! lol

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationopinion/11684535/Pressure-on-children-to-get-into-top-schools-has-reached-a-crisis-point.html