Suicide Is Not Selfish

Facebook response to article posted: https://globalnews.ca/video/6251638/alberta-mlas-address-suicide-outside-legislature-please-reach-out

A very important message to our neighbours in #Alberta and to #Canadians across the country.
In Alberta If you are in need of support, you can call the Health Link at 811 or the Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in immediate peril/danger call 911 where available.

Suicide is a final desperate act that results from months if not years of a need for help. It is rare for someone to choose suicide impulsively.

Suicide does not discriminate. Man, woman, child, all are at potential risk of choosing suicide as a solution to depression and other forms of mental illness.

Suicide is NOT selfish. Suicide is NOT a means to hurt others. Suicide is the last desperate act of someone who needed our help.

Don't let someone close to you (family, friend, coworker, classmate, neighbour) reach the point in their lives where they feel that suicide is the only option left.

You would be surprised that sometimes all it takes is just acknowledging that someone exists. Saying hello to a stranger. Offering a sympathetic ear to a friend in person or to a stranger on social media. Wouldn't you have a few minutes to spare if you knew that just pausing your busy life for a moment might save someone else's?

Sometimes the problems get to be so bad that the person feels they have no other choice. And yes, sometimes no matter what you say or do to try and help a person they will still choose suicide as the solution.

Sometimes you just can't help someone in need. But isn't it better to try and offer help than to just ignore them and go on with your lives?
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I think so. I know so.