Silence Can Be Deadly
“Silence is golden,” said Thomas Carlyle. Well, let’s add “silence
can be deadly,” according to Dr. Miriam Heyman. Dr. Heyman
is the co-author of a study on first responder suicides that
reported that in 2017, there were more suicides than line-of-duty
deaths. Line-of-duty deaths include shootings, stabbings, drownings
and car accidents on the job. In that year, 103 firefighters and 140
police officers killed themselves, compared to 93 firefighters and 129
officers who died in the line of duty. Heyman adds that the number of
suicides “are extremely underreported.”
“I want to die’: My unthinkable thought,” author Kirsten Powers
recently shared in USA Today. She points out that when she became
overwhelmed watching her mom fight breast cancer, followed by
breaking up with her boyfriend and living an “unstructured life,” and
then receiving news that her father had suddenly died of a heart attack,
she visited a psychiatrist. She had dealt with anxiety all her life and
was on an antidepressant. The doctor changed her medication, making
life worse. Kirsten said, “I couldn’t imagine life without my father and
our hours-long conversations about, well everything. The pain was
debilitating, getting out of bed was an Olympian event, and life was
utterly devoid of meaning… I couldn’t see any reason to be alive.”
Thankfully, she did find what she needed because she survived this
episode 14 years ago. She opened up in this June 2018 USA Today
article because she’d been reminded of her struggle with the highprofile
deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. Two people who
seemed to have it all, and yet both killed themselves within a short
period of time.
She shared her story shortly after interviewing John Draper, director
of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, who was soon to be her
brother-in-law. She said she hoped that maybe someone who is
suicidal will read her article and realize how thankful she is that she
“didn’t succumb to my suicidal impulses.” She points out that Halle
Berry, Elton John and Drew Barrymore attempted suicide and survived.
Also, Oprah and Olympian Michael Phelps considered, but didn’t follow
through, on suicide.
That’s why I’m writing on this often taboo subject. People need to
know there is help. People need to know that they can reach out to
people who will understand. Silence is not golden, it will kill. So please,
if you or someone you know needs help, reach out. We are not alone,
and we can let others know they are not alone.
Every life is valuable in the eyes of our Lord God. As a friend of mine
long ago who was a recovered addict told me, “God didn’t make no
junk.” There is help for each special person.
Know the warning signs, as given on NBC News after reporting about
Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain:
1. Talking about suicide
2. Hopelessness or feeling trapped
3. Change in behavior, including using alcohol and not sleeping
4. Difference in moods such as anxiety or agitation
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255.
| October 2018 | Real Hero Report
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