WHAT??!!

[Sara_H]

Sorry to hear it.

Suicide is a terrible way to lose someone, and its an experience thats touched us a couple of times.

I remember feeling very much that I wish I'd known that things were so bad, maybe I could have done something to change what happened, but deep down I know I couldn't have.

 

[Nihal]

Suicide...............

 

[roadrash]

 

[simon.r]

In the UK about twice as many people commit suicide as die on the roads - very roughly 4000 vs 2000 - yet we hear little about prevention.

It should be possible to openly discuss mental health issues without fear of being stigmatised. Unfortunately we are a long way from that position IME and IMO.

Suicide stats in this BBC news article
Road deaths from Wikipedia

 

[Norm]

Yesterday, I just have to wonder if, once he'd jumped in, he realised his mistake but it was too late and he died in regret/fear.
I suppose we'll never know.

Indeed. My experience, and in contrast to marshmallow's to emphasise the differences, certainly not to suggest they are incorrect, is that it can be a very impulsive thing.

An elderly-ish friend of my parents got some bad news on her health and, on the way home from the doctor's, drove head on into an HGV not wearing a seatbelt. Was it an accident or intentional? At first glance, there's no way that any who knew her would have thought her capable of such a thing, endangering the HGV driver as much as anything else was as far as can be imagined from the caring, concerned, thoughtful, considerate person that we knew. But she had always worn a seatbelt, she'd just had terrible news... we'll never know.

I do know that, in darker periods, I've pondered upon how easy it would be whilst riding or sailing or walking, and if, in that brief moment, the impulse was upon , thinking short-term, selfish, helpless thoughts rather than considering those around us, well, who knows what would happen.

 

[Gromit]

Doug it is never easy to come to terms with. You have to keep in mind that it is how your friend chose to end his life. I remember when my friend Tom took his life, it was like being stabbed through the heart. I and his friends have had to accept it, there is nothing you or I can do about it. It took two years to come to terms with his death and accept that it was what he wanted.

All you can do is be there for each other and help each other through and eventually learn to accept his wishes.

 

[PK99]

In the UK about twice as many people commit suicide as die on the roads - very roughly 4000 vs 2000 - yet we hear little about prevention.

It should be possible to openly discuss mental health issues without fear of being stigmatised. Unfortunately we are a long way from that position IME and IMO.

Suicide stats in this BBC news article
Road deaths from Wikipedia

I spent some time as a patient at The Priory early this year.

The clearest impression from session 1 day 1 was that all the folks there were a pretty good cross section of the people I meet every day - from housewives and students, to barristers and city brokers, to self employed to retired, from early 20's to 60's, from rich and prosperous to local authority care workers. That observation was the first step on my path to recovery - it was not my fault, i was not weak, i was just like all these other folk with a physical illness that happened to be in the brain.

On the day i stopped attending daily (CBT 121's carried on for a while) I posted my Facebook status to

Just coming to the end of a month at the Priory getting my head into a better place and out of a long dark tunnel of depression. i'm pleased to report the world is a nice place after all.!

A goodly number of FB friends posted public messages of support and a goodly number sent PM's recounting their own experiences with depression - none of which i had ever had any inkling about.

To anyone suffering: DO ask for help, that is strength not weakness. DO seek CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) - it works!

Also, do not be afraid to take antidepressants, they do not cure depression they simply stabilize the brain chemistry and allow clear thinking. It is clear thinking that cures depression. 121 CBT is the best option, but there are good online programmes and on line NHS programmes.

My daughter arrived back from a working holiday in the US a couple of weeks ago and asked Mum how i was doing - she tells me mum's reply was "I've got back the man I married"

 

[Maz]

I spent some time as a patient at The Priory early this year.

The clearest impression from session 1 day 1 was that all the folks there were a pretty good cross section of the people I meet every day - from housewives and students, to barristers and city brokers, to self employed to retired, from early 20's to 60's, from rich and prosperous to local authority care workers. That observation was the first step on my path to recovery - it was not my fault, i was not weak, i was just like all these other folk with a physical illness that happened to be in the brain.

On the day i stopped attending daily (CBT 121's carried on for a while) I posted my Facebook status to

A goodly number of FB friends posted public messages of support and a goodly number sent PM's recounting their own experiences with depression - none of which i had ever had any inkling about.

To anyone suffering: DO ask for help, that is strength not weakness. DO seek CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) - it works!

Also, do not be afraid to take antidepressants, they do not cure depression they simply stabilize the brain chemistry and allow clear thinking. It is clear thinking that cures depression. 121 CBT is the best option, but there are good online programmes and on line NHS programmes.

My daughter arrived back from a working holiday in the US a couple of weeks ago and asked Mum how i was doing - she tells me mum's reply was "I've got back the man I married"

Thank you so much for sharing this, PK99.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Sorry to hear that MDB.

My sister committed suicide twenty one years ago.

She had been suffering from depression for a few years and she left a letter explaining why she had decided to end her life.

Depression is an illness and so much different to people taking about being fed up or stressed out.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

As I thought, I didn't know the half of it. Apparently he was depressed for quite a long time but didn't want ANYONE to know about it except for a handful of people (of which I wasn't one, not I would have said anything anyway ). His wife had some suspicions on what he was going to do, but, of course, you can't predict anything.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing too.

 

[Melonfish]

Got word on my birthday about my uncle martin (he was married in) he was estranged from my aunt when he phoned her and said he was sorry for all the mess etc and he wouldn't bother her again.
poured a can of petrol around himself in the living room, sat down on the couch and lit one up.
came as somewhat of a shock.
at least with him his circumstances would have given some indication but there are those that for no apparent reason go out and just end it. i'm truly sorry for your loss MDB
pete

 

[GetAGrip]

Sorry to read that, Doug, but don't beat yourself up or let any of the survivors think they could have done anything differently. Depression can be a very personal illness which sufferers can hide from themselves as well as everyone else. Think of the good things, don't let his choice of ending colour anything.

Yes, it can leave dreadful consequences but, many people can see, the hardest decision as the only decision they have left, and trying to understand their thinking is almost always futile, it's a place that most will never understand and they should be gratetful of that more than anything they will ever know.

IMO

Well put Norm.

 

[Scoosh]

Very sorry, Doug.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Thanks everyone

 

[ttcycle]

Hope you're holding up ok.