Member-only story
It’s Too Late When You’re Dead
Suicide Prevention Is Stupidly Difficult, And We Suck At It
I have a friend, who has a brother, and that brother died by suicide.
I cannot fathom what she goes through. Not even a little bit.
I could say that I try, but do I? I mean, do I really? I don’t think I do. To try to understand would be…well, hard. It would require digging down into emotions that I don’t exactly want to try to empathize with, so I don’t.
Sure, I’ve tried to express understanding, and sympathy, but…
The thing is, I felt probably more actual pain when Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain committed suicide within a few days of one another. And that was mostly because they led very public, on-display lives. I’d gone to hear Bourdain speak at a lecture series, and I’d watched him disclose much of his personal experience (or so it seemed) on television, and I’d read his book. And Kate, well, I’d read all about how supportive her husband was when she was starting out. She wasn’t seeing the success she’d hoped for in women’s fashion, so he suggested she try handbags, and — wow — instant rocket to stardom. I felt like I was a part of their lives somehow. And yet of course I was anything but.
Reach out if you’re struggling.
