Your life matters

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September 10th is the World Suicide Prevention Day, organized by professionals and govermments to promote understanding about suicide and working together to prevent it. 

Every day, an average of more than 10 Canadians die by suicide, being the 9th leading cause of death. You can find more information here.

People that attempt or die by suicide are generally stigmatized, associated with a mad or weak personality. First of all, we have to understand that the person who attempts suicide doesn’t necessarily wants to end their life. Actually, they want to end their suffering.

Suicide is preventable. For sure, it depends on different sectors of society. Then you may ask: What can I do? How can I provide support? The answer is: look around you!

Keep in touch with your loved ones, neighbors, coworkers, friends. Listen to them. It looks obvious, doesn’t it?

But sometimes, when we look at someone, in fact we are just looking at ourselves. We are listening to our own thoughts instead of someone else’s thoughts. 

We are worried if we would be able to handle that person’s problem. Worried if we are going to say the right word or give the best advice. We are too worried about ourselves.

And what about the silence? Sometimes the silence is deafening. It tells us what the ears are not able to hear, words that would be never understood. Just a true listener is able to comprehend. 

Let’s make a difference in each other’s life. Let’s genuinely ask “how are you?”. Let’s spend our time using technology to keep in touch and listen beyond our judges and beliefs. When was the last time that you called a friend?

Are you surely all ears?