Five steps to uncovering a will to live when family & friends have disappeared. — After surviving a suicide attempt, I fight depression and mental health taboos by writing about suicide prevention and asking inconvenient questions on life. Let’s stop pretending it is sunny when it rains. And let’s deal with the rain until the sun comes back. My depression lasted years, growing year after…

Why are gaming companies allowed to benefit from addictions and gambling-disguised-as-video-games without clear warnings and oversight? — I recently read an article titled “Video Games Could Hold Untapped Potential in Treatment of Mental Illness” (source Very Well Mind). From my own experience with smartphone games and depression, that statement was mind-boggling. To me, it would be similar to reading that using non-renewal fossil fuel could be the…

Who can I talk to? The myth that “those who talk about suicide don’t do it.” — After surviving a suicide attempt, I fight depression and mental health taboos by writing about suicide prevention and asking inconvenient questions on life. Let’s stop pretending it is sunny when it rains. And let’s deal with the rain. My life is slowly getting better since I attempted to commit suicide…

Words matter. Words have consequences. — After surviving a suicide attempt, I fight depression and mental health taboos by writing about suicide prevention and asking troublesome questions regarding life. Let’s stop pretending it is sunny when it rains. And let’s deal with the rain. Since I attempted to commit suicide, I am overly sensitive to discussions…

Will you save your friend suffering from mental illness or put the last nail in the coffin? — If you find a friend in the middle of the road with a broken leg, you will do something. You will find a way to prevent traffic from running him over. You will call 911. You will probably visit him at the hospital. …

I attempted suicide. Here’s why suicide prevention campaigns did not work for me, and what could have. — Less than 2 years ago, I attempted to commit suicide. Since then, I readily notice messages about suicide prevention. I can tell you why none of these messages helped me. And I can tell you what could have. For me. The Suicide Prevention Slogans That Fail Me “We care. You matter.” Really? Even my family members and friends didn’t seem to…

Common misconceptions about suicide — Since I attempted to commit suicide a year and a half ago, I am overly sensitive to messages I see about suicide. I notice how suicide is depicted in movies. I hear people talking about suicide. I see advertising for suicide prevention. And I almost always shake my head. For…