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Yesterday I heard of a friend who is depressed and had suicidal thoughts.  Luckily she had already reached out for help from a good friend and had found a place to go to talk.  Her circumstances seem to be the catalyst in this case, as opposed to someone who is clinically depressed.  But either way it’s crucial for those in contact with those people to listen and be aware of hints, words, behaviors, that seem to indicate thoughts of suicide.

When I have come in contact with someone contemplating suicide I have always returned to this:  If you are alive, there is hope. If you are dead, there is not.  It doesn’t matter if you THINK there is hope.  It doesn’t matter if you THINK things will get better.  All that matters is that you ACT as if there is hope and that things will get better.  Be an actor, pretend your way through it.   

I don’t mean to be trite.  I don’t mean you shouldn’t get help, of course you should. And I don’t mean you don’t eventually want to get to the place where you actually have hope and believe things will get better.  But for now, you obviously do not think that. I can’t make you think it.  But actors don’t have to believe, they just have to act.  And acting is what will keep you alive until the help and hope comes about.

I am not talking about the pretending all is well when it isn’t.  I am not talking about living a lie, living in abuse, living in unbearable circumstances. I am talking about acting out a set of steps that will keep you alive.

First step, admit it to someone who you think has the best chance of helping you.  If that person doesn’t step up, keep going, find another person.  Don’t give up, don’t stop until that person has appeared.
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily

Quote by George Carlin, 1937-2008, American comedian and writer