The Effect Suicide Has on Loved Ones

By Susan Titus Osborn:

 If you are depressed and considering taking your own life, please stop for a moment.

Think of the effect suicide has on loved ones, your loved ones, who are left behind.

The following poem sums up the feelings of a brother and the effect his sister’s suicide had on him.

This poem was taken from Too Soon to Say Goodbye: Healing and Hope for Suicide Victims and Survivors and used with permission by New Hope Publishers.

Pamela

by Gary Sumner

 

The sudden loss of one I loved

Brought shock at first—she can’t be gone.

There must be some mistake!

The minutes, hours, days that passed

Were blurred by numbing grief and loss,

The details lost to time.

My mind shut down; I could not hear

The words of comfort friends would speak

To pull me out of pain.

I spoke of Pam and who she was.

I questioned why she took her life

And what I could have done.

She could have called and talked to me.

She did before ‘bout many things,

But never gave a hint….

So anger came, it overwhelmed.

I wanted so to scream at her

For such a selfish act.

Through time and prayer, forgiveness came.

Yet oft my heart will ache and cry,

I want my sister back.

If you are depressed and contemplating suicide, please stop for a moment and think of the effect suicide has on loved ones, your loved ones, who are left behind.  There are a number of resources available as near as your telephone. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call will be routed to the nearest crisis center to you.

You can also dial the following National Suicide Prevention Hotline numbers operated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services:

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

1-888-SUICIDE (1-888-784-2433)

1-877-SUICIDA (1-877-784-2432) (Spanish).