I’m no stranger to the topic of mental health. I’ve long held the opinion that our “universal health care” program here in Canada strangely omits a lot of care for the mental part of our health. Then last year, an admired hockey player committed suicide, followed a little later by another hockey player.
So, with today being World Suicide Prevention Day, I just wanted to share a few small thoughts.
This is no laughing matter and I just wanted to take a few minutes to let you, YES YOU, know that I care. I care about what’s going on in your life. I care abut that dark space we get trapped in sometimes, the one that seems never-ending, with slippery sides and a haunting echo of unkind words.
I know that darkness all too well. Sometimes I seem to know it better than my friends and family. But whatever I struggle with, whatever it is that leads me there or drives me there, I know there is still hope. Still light, still love, still grace - even when I cannot see it, or perhaps even especially.
If you find yourself needing to talk to someone today, or any day, please know that my door is open. You can use the contact page here to get a hold of me, or you can find me on Facebook or Twitter and send me a line to get in touch with you.
I know that there are some concerns or issues that take more than a conversation or a phone call to fix. But I do wonder, if we took a little more time to express genuine concern and love for each other, would that maybe eliminate some of the root problems of poor mental health?
Consider this an experiment then. If you would just take a minute to show someone you genuinely care about them today – and maybe this could be someone you don’t normally talk to – it might make all the difference in the world to them. More importantly, it might make all the difference in the world to you.
