For today’s episode, instead of a one-on-one interview, we’re doing something a little different. We’ve invited an array of voices to share some heartfelt responses to some questions: 1. Who or what has helped you stay another day? And 2. What would you say to someone who is finding it difficult to stay another day? Their responses are honest and unique, but there is often, and perhaps unsurprisingly, a common occurrence of hope. If some responses don’t resonate with you, that’s OK. Because our desire is for even just one message, one encouragement you hear to inspire you or someone you care about, to stay for another day.
When the pandemic altered nearly every part of daily life, we wondered what it would mean for those struggling, for those currently fighting to stay alive. A mental health crisis already existed and the pandemic only made it more glaringly obvious. The collective trauma and loss nearly doubled the number of people having thoughts of suicide and experiencing depression compared to previous years.
One bright spot, a moment of tragic optimism, is that this shared experience made talking about mental health almost a normal part of everyday life. We were surprised to see moments where the polite, “How are you?” was not expected to be met with an unassuming “fine.”
Over the course of the next few episodes, in honor of TWLOHA’s Another Day With You campaign and World Suicide Prevention Day—which is this Friday, September 10th, we’re using this space to have conversations that challenge the lie that says we can’t or shouldn’t talk about suicide. We want to share real-life experiences as they relate to suicide attempts, loss, and ideation.
“If there’s one thing I could tell to someone who was thinking about suicide, and I don't know if this feels corny, but you're not alone. I think there are a lot of us who are walking this earth, they're probably right next to you on a bus, on a train, on a plane, in your cubicle, you might be looking at them on a Zoom call, who's going through and processing the same level of emotion. And I don't know, sometimes that level of awareness, the idea that we're not alone in this suffering can give us a sense of hope and even strength. Thinking about suicide doesn't make you any less human, doesn't make you any less, quote-unquote normal. I'd argue to say that there are a lot of us who have contemplated it at one point in time or another, you know, it's OK.”
This episode of the TWLOHA podcast was hosted by Chad Moses and produced by Rebecca Ebert. Music assistance was provided by James Likeness and Ben Tichenor.
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