Posted by PATRICK KENNEDY – Suicide. No one wants to talk about it. People every day want to ignore that it happens. But odds are many of you know someone who has attempted suicide or has had serious thoughts of doing so in their lifetime.
Every year, close to 1 million Americans attempt suicide and more than 30,000 die at its hands. Further, suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens and young adults and the second leading cause of death for college students. These are scary and staggering numbers and something must be done.
This Saturday, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention hosted a walk at the Clinton School, to support local and national suicide prevention and awareness programs. First Lady of Arkansas Ginger Beebe and others spoke about the need to shed the stigma associated with suicide and depression that prevents people from seeking help.
Many people at the walk shared stories of someone they lost. Stories too sad to be true; wounds too deep to heal. Yet they showed up anyway; more than 450 people, in fact. But one thing was missing – the everyday public servant. The one you see at every walk and who makes an effort to support most just-cause events.
It is natural not to acknowledge the most troubling aspects of human nature. It sometimes is far easier to choose to serve several countries away, and to work on issues of service but never really touch the dirt.
I, for one, admire people who can discover hope and inspire change from the darkest of places. They are our most valuable public servants.