Self-Harm and Suicide Awareness

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Did you know that the third leading cause of death in America among young people is suicide? In 2010, 38,364 people died from suicide in the U.S. That’s nearly 2% of all deaths in America, which may not seem like a lot, but it can really add up. And, there are at least 25 suicide attempts for every completed suicide in the U.S. Many people, hopefully not in this room, self-harm or have thoughts of suicide. If you are one of these people, please know that there are more options than hurting or killing yourself. No matter how hard you think life can get, there are always positive things in life that make it worth living.
Some of the leading causes of suicide include depression (or low self-esteem), problems with relationships, school issues, or bullying because of weight, sexuality, or physical or mental performance.
Everyone has a mental picture of themselves; whether it’s how they look, what they’re good or bad at, and what their weaknesses and strengths are. A lot of people tend to think negatively about themselves, but they’re just looking at it the wrong way, and there are many ways to boost your self-esteem. If you are constantly thinking negative things about yourself, it’s bound to make you upset about who you are. Every day, try to write down three things about yourself that make you happy. Build up your self-esteem. Set mini goals for yourself, ones that you know you can get done, while still doing what you need to. Reward yourself. Let you know you are worth something and that you are good for something.
If relationships are a problem you’re facing, do something about it. If you are in an abusive relationship, which I’m hoping isn’t a problem for kids our age, get rid of that person. If you are having a problem with your...

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...o do it. Just don’t resort to cutting yourself.
To get down to a serious level, self-harm isn’t something people should be doing. And for people who don’t, don’t look down upon people who do. For those of you who think cutting is a way to try to get attention, open your eyes. Think about how many people you personally know have talked about how they were cutting themselves the other night. Not very many I can imagine. That’s because people do, do it as a release from the pain that they are dealing with in life. They feel that the pain other people put them through is worse than self-inflicted pain. Isn’t that a terrible thought? They try to hide it from friends and family to not be a bother or attract attention to themselves. So, next time you see someone putting another person down, don’t ignore it and step in. You never know that you may be saving someone’s life.

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