I chose to participate in this blog hop because I think it’s a worthy cause. It makes me feel sick inside that such a large number of people find their lives so unbearable that such a final step seems like the answer. Because it is final. There is no chance for it to get better. I wish there was some way to tell them that it’s not the answer. I wish there was a way for everyone who felt that hopeless to be able to find help.
Because of what I write, I am at least aware of a number of issues that affect the LGBT community, and one of those is a higher suicide rate, especially among teens. Much of that is the direct result of bullying or not being accepted at home. I do what I can in my personal life to try and promote acceptance and tolerance, because I’d be much happier if we could all get along. Support each other. Have a bit of camaraderie and decency as part of the human condition. And perhaps that’s naïve of me, but I’m a romance author. I long, with all my heart, for a happy ending. For a happily ever after. For everyone to find love and acceptance.
I don’t know what the answer is. I’d like to think my books maybe give people a lift in their spirits, and maybe a bit of hope. As part of this blog hop, though, I’ve got a very easy way for you to contribute, too. Enter the grand prize drawing by signing in using the Rafflecopter widget and comment on this post. I’m also going to give you a little more incentive. Add your email address to your comment and I’ll enter you into a contest for a $10 gift certificate to Amazon or All Romance eBooks (winner’s choice) for those commenting on my site. In addition, for each comment on this post, I’ll donate $1* to The Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope we can make a difference. For more information about National Suicide Prevention Week, please check out their Facebook Page. I’ll contact/announce a winner after the end of the hop.
*to a maximum of $100 because I’m an author, not filthy rich 😉
My son spent over 4 years struggling to deal with severe PTSD and TBI from his 15 months in Iraq. On Jan. 2, 2011, he decided he could no longer do it and completed suicide. He was 25 and my oldest child, my sunshine, my pride and joy and my friend. We tried for many years to get him help, he was surrounded by loving family and friends, but I think sometimes he felt like a failure because he wasn’t able to handle it on his own. My sister and her husband are both psychologists so there was never any stigma about getting help. To say that his death devastated all of us is an understatement. I will never be the person I use to be, a part of me will be broken until I’m with him again. Thank you for bringing this subject out in the open, I talk about it often. My son didn’t do this to hurt us, he just wanted the pain to stop, I know that if he had been thinking clearly, knowing all the pain that we would be in, he never would have done this, he didn’t have a mean bone in his body. We talked about suicide often, the extra hurt that came when someone chooses to take their life and he promised me that if he ever felt like that, he would come to me. But one night after not sleeping for days and tired of the sounds and smells of battle assaulting him, he broke his promise and my heart. His last words were “I don’t want to die” he just wanted the pain to stop. Suicide needs to be taken out of the closet, held like a dirty little secret, a brand of shame that only adds to the ones that attempt and the survivors. Only taking it out into the light of day and talking about it loudly instead of whispering in disgust will we then start to put a halt to this overwhelming tide of suicide.
proudarmymom32(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks so much for taking part, KC. And what a poignant point — we want everyone to have that happily ever after.
Oh, Sue – you have my sympathies. Thank you for sharing your story, I can only imagine how painful this was for you. I’m happy to do whatever I can to raise awareness, because you’re right. The issue does need to be out in the light of day.
Happy to help, Louisa 🙂
Thanks so much for participating–it’s such an important topic, and I’ve learned so much!
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks for sharing
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
So glad you joined in on the Hop, KC. Great post and such a needed conversation.
tempeste.oriley@gmail.com
Thank you for participating in the blog hop, and especially for your thoughtful and heartfelt post.
Thanks for sharing and participating.
Thanks for being a part of this. My son was almost one of these statistics too. There’s still a possibility that he could be. Like Sue’s son, he just wanted the pain to go away.
Thanks for your donation to The Trevor Project.
legacylandlisa @ gmail dot com
Thanks for helping raise awareness of the impact of suicides and hiw we can help,and thanks for donating to TTP
Suze
Littlesuze at hotmai
Dot com
Thank you for participating!! Both of my children have friends who are LGBT and St. Louis (where we live) has the LGBT Prom and Gay Pride Weekend. My children attend these with their friends and it makes me proud to see such compassion from teens. I wish everyone could reach that level of acceptance!
cc_clubbs at yahoo dot com
Thank you for donating KC. This has happened twice in my family now and I would sincerely hope it didn’t happen to anyone else again.
kalimar2010 @ gmail.com
I’ve been lucky enough that I’ve never had anyone close to me commit suicide, but I’ve seen how it can destroy those left behind. I too want to see everyone get there Happy Ever After!
KC – thank you for your donation to Trevor Project and for your blog.
I had a childhood friend whose mother took her own life. It had a lasting impact on my friend – part of that because of the way other people treated her afterward. I agree with previous comments that keeping suicide “in the closet” is part of the problem and it is also hurtful to those who survive.
Thank you for participating in this worthy blog hop to raise important awareness about suicide.
Sorry forgot my email address – strive4bst(AT) yahoo(Dot) com
Wonderful post & a great cause to support.
natalija(dot)shkomare(at)gmail(dot)com
I too am utterly heartsick at the thought of someone taking such a final step. Thank you for bringing attention to this cause, and your donation to The Trevor Project.
The donation will be appreciated and go toward helping those who cannot find a way out. Thank you for being part of this special hop and your gift.
OceanAkers @ aol.com
Thanks for taking part in the hop and spreading awareness. It’s also cool that you’re also donating to The Trevor Project =)
Gah! I just realized my replies don’t actually attached to specific comments! So… thank you everyone who has stopped by so far, and I’ll just call out a few of you.
Lisa – I really hope your son finds another way – my thoughts are with you & your family.
Cindi- Good for your kids! I also wish everyone had that level of acceptance.
Kat – you have my sympathies – I’m so sorry for what you’ve had to go through.
Jennifer – yes, it absolutely has a huge impact on those left behind.
Thank you very much for being a part of this blog hop.
Thanks for your donation! sometimes a little insight mean everything to someone we may never know…
KC, thank you so much for sharing the message of support and for letting me be part of that support just by leaving a comment. I’m so happy to have one more dollar going to The Trevor Project.
caroaz [at] ymail [dot] com
I agree with your sentiments. Suicide is such a final decision. I, too, wish there was a way to alleviate that feeling of hopelessness that accompanies depression, especially in young people.
Thanks for participating in such a worthwhile hop.
pjmillion (at) comcast (dot) net
This a really good idea for a hop. I’m finding out lots of information about how to help people who are feeling lost, alone and need help.
ShirleyAnnSpeakman@40.freeserve.co.uk
Thank you for participating in the hop. This is the first time I’m learning about The Trevor Project.
bituin76 at hotmail dot com