Life is hard. Things happen that tear down our joy and security. Some of us deal with more pain than one can fathom. There are those who cannot handle their weight and burden. These people are alone in their darkness. My magazine brings awareness of the issue of teen suicide in Utah. People who commit suicide feel such deep sorrow and isolation, they decide they can’t go on. They lose hope and don’t know where or who to turn to.
My passion is being there for people in crisis. There were people who helped me through my time of darkness and continue to call me to growth. No one should handle their pain alone. My memoir Looking to the Light, one of the featured pieces on this website, showcases the necessity of conversation on the pathway to healing your mental health. I stayed silent for far too long. Now that I have found my voice, I can be an advocate for my peers who are in the same situation I was in years ago. When I share my passion, I refuse to sugar-coat the issue. There needs to be a change in Utah. But I equally refuse to become pessimistic in the change I see now. The first step in preventing suicide is fighting for hope. There can only be hope when we realistically look at the problems in Utah and expect change for the better.
As you go through this website, you will find resources for help. Each mental health journey is unique and the information cannot apply to every person all the time. That is okay. Even in creating a culture of mental health awareness, people will feel safe to share their story. They will see that they are not alone and that they are loved beyond measure. You cannot fight against an issue as large as our suicide rates without research. My podcast Strategies in Suicide Prevention discusses some possible causes of suicidal behavior and solutions to combat the issues. Suicide is such a complicated problem. There is no way to identify all the causes for every person, but understanding the broad explanations can lead to powerful solutions. This magazine can be a place to learn and get your questions answered. It can also help you develop more inquiries and open the door for personal research.
Every person has mental health and every person has dealt with dark seasons in their life. Taking initiative and studying the strategies to fight against suicidal behavior will be immensely helpful to you and the people around you. When people are in war, the leaders will study the issue and find solutions. I say let’s start a war on teen suicide in Utah. If you are going through a difficult time in your life, know that I am fighting for you. I know that suicide is a depressing, disheartening, and devastating issue in Utah. It can be easy to lose hope; hope for yourself and hope for our state. An article I wrote called Making an Impact in Utah describes the need for hope in the battle with teen suicide. There has been growth in our state and I know there will be more change to come. So don’t lose hope. Don’t stop fighting. The sun will always rise again.