22TooMany

According to the Department of Veterans, 22 veterans take their lives everyday. That statistic is alarming. Even one veteran is too many for me and something has to be done.

People truly don't understand that suicide is not something selfish. If you're feeling that way, it's not something to feel ashamed about. It's that "suicide is selfish" thinking that has many veterans not willing to reach out.

When someone is feeling suicidal and they reach out, some of the first emotions that one may express is anger. They feel that "Why would you do this to me?" "That's selfish as hell!" "So you would leave so and so behind? What kind of man does that?" "people who commit suicide are weak and not real men!"

This is why instead of reaching out, they leave behind notes and bodies.

It's not about you. If someone is suicidal, it needs to be treated as if someone told you that they were having a heart attack. It needs to be treated immediately with certain measures and a side of compassion. That's the problem in this country. Suicide is treated like it's this thing that no one can talk about or bring up. Everyone has such strong opinions about suicide, but most of those people have never been suicidal. This is what I hold dear to my heart. I salute others of the same mind and heart.

www.22toomany.com

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