Julia K Cole

If you know of someone who is contemplating suicide, if you even suspect they are, there is something you can do.  o Ask directly if your friend is thinking about suicide. o Be willing to listen . Allow their expressions of feelings, and accept those feelings. o Be non-judgmental. Don't debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad. Don't lecture on the value of life. Focus on being present with their feelings. o Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support. o Check in with your friend regularly. Schedule times to talk for the next week when you will both be available, to see how they are doing. o Don't act shocked. This will put distance between you. Be patient with yourself and the situation o Don't be sworn to secrecy. Seek support. o Offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer glib reassurance. o Take action. Remove means, such as guns or stockpiled pills o Get help fro...

Death.  No matter what shape or form it takes it triggers intense emotions.  Even if we barely knew the person or never met the person we each feel something when we are told of their passing.    And the deep pain of sorrow we feel when an animal passes, be it our pets or an animal in the wild,  is something we all share. With some it's a deep sense of loss.  With others it is a wake up call.    Bottom line, with each passing, be it human or a beloved pet, Death reminds us how precious and how very short our time on this earth really is.  It touches us down to the very depths of our inner core.  Consciously or unconsciously. Many often wonder if there was more that could have been done to prevent the death of another.  Especially, and most in particularly, when it comes to suicide.    Sadly, suicide is still considered taboo.  It is a subject everyone knows about, but very rarely discusses o...