I hope everyone has been well. I know I have been gone for quite sometime, not posting here or on my YouTube Channel, but I have been going through a lot of personal happenings and have decided to take a break from blogging and YouTube for a little bit. I will slowly be getting back into this, but it is going to be a little while longer I think. To all of my viewers of my YouTube Channel, followers of this blog, and fans on my Facebook page I appreciate every one of you who have taken the time to check out what I do. But that's not what the reason of this post is today....
In the US a person dies of suicide every 14.2 minutes. Suicide claims more than 36,000 lives a year. Attempted suicide happens every minute, of every day, with close to a million attempts each year. It is the 10th leading cause of death and is the 3rd leading cause of death of people ages 15-24 years. The education and advocacy of suicide and depression lacks in awareness, and there is something we call can do to help.
I recently teamed up with the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention in my area. They sponsor Out of the Darkness walks across the country. They are a non-profit organization who take the proceeds from the walks and use it for understanding and preventing suicide through extensive research, education and advocacy. They are the nations leading non profit organization for suicide prevention. I have decided to participate in the walk, as well as some other behind the scenes coordination with the Chairperson in my area. My goal is to raise $1,000 before the walk.
I haven't lost a loved one to suicide, but I know many who have. I've seen the turmoil that families are left with after losing a loved one to suicide. So many unanswered questions, the hurt, the anger, the sadness. I've lost many loved ones, but will never know the feeling of emptiness that someone left behind feels when they lose someone to suicide. I myself thought of, and even attempted suicide when I was younger. I was very depressed and unhappy, but I am lucky to have the people around me today who make me happy and I no longer feel the way I once did. But sadly, there are so many who still battle with depression, mental disorders, who take their life each year.....and because of them I have decided to participate in the walk in my town.
Please take the time out to visit the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention's website, at www.afsp.org to find out more information, and see if there is a sponsored walk in your area. Also, below is a link to my donation page. I know times are tough right now for everyone, myself included, but if anyone reading this is able to make a donation to my page, even if it is only $1.00, you will make my heart smile. If you aren't able to, that's okay too. But please check out the website and see if you can sponsor a walk in your area, or find another way to help. Life is too short not to take time to help others. Whether it be through donation to this cause, or any cause for that matter. Helping someone in need is so rewarding.
My Donation Page: http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=312395
Thank you for anyone who is able to help, and thank YOU, yes YOU, for taking the time to read this blog post....
<3
