Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. This is an issue that affects people of all demographics. It impacts your decision-making and behavioral control, which creates a difficult environment to seek out positive solutions. We’ve discovered that over 90% of suicide victims had underlying mental health battles. This number is astounding because all are potentially treatable.
As a suicide attempt survivor myself, I seek to make a diffference through prevention, awareness, and action. Community, school, and group programs are some of the best ways to start.
I believe in using my own experience as an example to help educate others in hopes it will help remind even just one person they’re not alone. It’s a tough, but powerful role to be an advocate for suicide awareness as a survivor myself. History shows individuals tend to cling and listen to those who have gone through lived experiences firsthand. While it may be difficult to share my experience, it’s the chance of saving just one person that makes it all worth it.
I have had the pleasure of speaking on behalf of the National Alliance for Mental Health in Utah (NAMI) and for the state of Georgia. My experiences have allowed me to remind students, educators, peers, and community members that they’re not alone. In a raw narrative filled with education and personal testimony, I hope we can ignite together to end suicide.