Suicide is a desperate act by someone who has lost all hope, or seeks to punish, or who suffers from intolerable mental pain and anguish. There is nothing more devastating to a family than a young person who suffers in this way.
White wreaths lay in the city park today with accompanying stories of lives ( many of them young people) lost, of families split apart and heart – wrenching messages of grief, loss and sorrow and disbelief from those left behind. The messages also contained the chilling method these people chose to end their life.It was an intensely sobering and emotionally upsetting experiences walking amongst the wreaths. Some victims were as young as 14 or 15 years old. A member of my own family has in the past, suffered with suicidal thoughts for a time and my thought was, ” When there is nothing else, there is always hope!” There is always hope, isn’t there? I can only imagine the torment that would drive someone to commit suicide believing there was no more hope that things could improve.
Australia has one of the highest rates of youth suicide in the world.
The White wreath Association aims to increase awareness of the social impact mental illness, and in particular, suicide has on our society and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. A choir all dressed in white, sang, “Things will get better” and the white wreaths were a pure and stark reminder of how many lives were lost to suicide this year, in one city alone. The white wreath association encouraged everyone to wear white to work on 29 May in support of their worthy cause.
If you know someone who has talked or contemplated suicide, I urge you to encourage them to tell someone about it, seek help and for you to be as supportive as you can. Do not turn your back on them especially if they have a plan of just how they would carry it out. This is a desperate and urgent call for help or attention. For suicide affects everyone around the victim and many lives are irrevocably changed and destroyed for ever.
White Wreath Association aims to:
- Provide Advocacy and support to the sufferers of mental illnesses and their families.
- Provide support to the family and friends of suicide victims through our National White Wreath Day held on the 29 May each year.
- Raise awareness of the social impact mental illness has on our society.
- Reduce the stigma associated with mental disorders through public awareness campaigns like White Wreath Day.
We are losing thousands of Australians each year to SUICIDE. With help, we can reduce our alarming suicide statistics and build centres to provide a brighter future and quality of life for those in need.
Something sobering to ponder about today
Something to Ponder About 