If you are considering suicide, please read these two articles that were found online:

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Suicide: A First-Person Message (by Stacy Hollingsworth, College Student):

          I used to think that depression and suicide were things that happened to other people, that the way I approached my life somehow prevented me from becoming a victim of mental illness.  I realized just how incorrect that assumption was when my own life was turned upside down by major depression.

          I first noticed that something was wrong in 8th grade.  Apparently, so did one of my teachers, because she asked me if anything was wrong.  Unfortunately, she did so in front of the whole class.  From that day on, I put up a wall to protect myself from the embarassment of having a stigmatized illness.  I wore a mask--a facade--to cover up what I was actually going through.  I didn't feel comfortable sharing my feelings with any adults in my life at that time.

          My depression continued in high school.  I was hoping that someone--anyone--would bring up topics of depression and suicide, so that I wouldn't have to.  In school, there were always lessons about alcohol, drugs, and safe sex--but never ONCE were depression and suicide mentioned.  Maybe, just maybe, if the adults in my life had been educated in these topics, I would have felt comfortable asking for help, and I would have been spared years of suffering.

          But I'm one of the lucky ones.  I did get help.  I'm here today as the voice of those who are not yet being heard--the child who's sitting in a class full of students thinking he or she is the only one feeling this way...or the teen who can't focus in school because he or she is trapped by the isolation and pain of depression.

          Help IS available--ask your friends, your resource staff at school, your parents, or call the suicide hotline.  The right resources are there--look for them--because they CAN save your life!

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This article was found on Facebook, and had been reposted so many times that the author is unknown:

        Wanna kill yourself?  Imagine this.  You come home from school one day.  You've had yet another horrible day.  You're just ready to give up.  So you go to your room, close the door, and take out that suicide note you've written and rewritten over and over and over.  You take out those razor blades, and cut for the very last time.  You grab that bottle of pills and take them all.  Laying down, holding the letter to your chest, you close your eyes for the very last time.  A few hours later, your little brother knocks on your door to come tell you dinner is ready.  You don't answer, so he walks in.  All he sees is you laying on your bed, so he thinks you're asleep.  He tells your mom this.  Your mom goes to your room to wake you up.  She notices something is odd.  She grabs the paper in your hand and reads it.  Sobbing, she tries to wake you up.  She's screaming your name.  Your brother, so confused, runs to tell Dad, "Mommy is crying and sissy won't wake up!"  Your dad runs to your room. He looks at your mom, crying, holding the letter to her chest, sitting next to your lifeless body.  It hits him, what is going on, and he screams.  He screams and throws something at the wall.  And then, falling to his knees, he starts to cry.  Your mom crawls over to him, and they sit there, holding each other, crying. 

        The next day at school, there's an announcement.  The principal tells everyone about your suicide.  It takes a few seconds for it to sink in, but once it does, everyone goes silent.  Everyone blames themselves.  Your teachers think they were too hard on you.  Those mean popular girls think of all the things they've said to you.  That boy that used to tease you and call you names can't help but hate himself for never telling you how beautiful you really are.  Your ex-boyfriend, the one that you told everything to, that broke up with you..he can't handle it.  He breaks down and starts crying, and runs out of the school.  Your friends?  They're sobbing too, wondering how they could never see that anything was wrong, wishing they could have helped you before it was too late.  And your best friend?  She's in shock. She can't believe it.  She knew what you were going through, but she never thought it would get that bad...bad enought for you to end it.  She can't cry, she can't feel anything.  She stands up, walks out of the classroom, and just sinks to the floor.  Shaking, screaming, but no tears coming out.

        It's now a few days later, at your funeral.  It seems like the whole town came.  Everyone knew you, that girl with the bright smile and bubbly personality.  The one that was always there for everyone, the shoulder to cry on.  Lots of people talk about all the good memories they had with you, there were a lot.  Everyone's crying, your little brother still doesn't know you killed yourself, he's too young.  Your parents just said you died.  It hurts him, a lot.  You were his big sister, you were supposed to always be there for him.  Your best friend, she stays strong through the entire service, but as soon as they start lowering your casket into the ground, she just loses it.  She cries and cries and doesn't stop for days.  

        It's now two years later.  Your teachers all quit their jobs.  Those mean girls have eating disorders now.  That boy that used to tease you cuts himself.  Your ex-boyfriend doesn't know how to love anymore.  Your friends all go into depression.  Your best friend?  She tried to kill herself.  She didn't succeed like you did, but she tried.  Your brother? He finally found out the truth about your death.  He self-harms, he cries at night, he does exactly what you did for years leading up to your suicide.  Your parents? Their marraige fell apart.  Your dad became a workaholic to distract himself from your death.  Your mom got diagnosed with depression and just lays in bed all day.  

        People care.  You may not think so, but they do.  Your choices don't just affect you.  They affect everyone around you.  Don't end your life, you have so much to live for.  Things can't get better if you give up.  

 

        Please, if you are considering attempting suicide, please remember how many friends and family you will hurt. There are SO many people who care for you and love you and their lives will be forever changed (for the worst)! If you will talk to someone, ANYONE, and ask them to help you or get you help, they will!  Plus the Suicide Hotlines are trained to help people when they feel they just want to end it all.  Please call one of the phone numbers below, and get the help you need TODAY! 

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