Monday Blues: An Unimaginable Depth

You know I am not sure that I have really posted this side of the Blues before. Usually the Blues have been of a more cheerful nature, or at the least derive from a less serious side or incident. Things being what they were this past week though:

Over the past few years, the Mrs. and I have had the pleasure to get to know a nice young woman who has a love for theater and film, a young woman who spent much time with us, shared our home, our table, our lives, holidays, sometimes for a week (and more) at a time. I have seen much hope, and promise, in this young person. If you looked closely, or even just glanced her way at the right moment, you might have seen an amazing sparkle in her eyes, heard a fun-loving lilt in her laugh. But sharing space with those happier things lurks this unimaginable depth of darkness. At a past time this young woman had been diagnosed with major depression; suicide was on the table. As I write this, and think about it, I can't help but get choked up and on the verge of tears.

Whew, that was not easy to write.

Last week a terrible low was reached. There was a knife and threats of harm. Everyone involved is fine - physically anyway. Emotionally, well...

Can you imagine how deep a pain must be, how all-encompassing it must feel, for someone to reach such a point? 

A lot of us see these clever memes on facebook, or wherever, about depression and suicide prevention, and we click "Like," because we believe the message is important and it seems to be the thing to do. Then we move on to the next political ad, "sponsored", or "suggested for you," or maybe something actually useful to our lives at that moment, like information on the next ride. Life moves rapidly along and, for the most part, that meme, and its important message, is shoved away. Maybe even forgotten.

I know, and you do too, depression and mental health issues are widespread. Enough so that it has been labeled an epidemic. Many of you have probably been affected by it either directly, or indirectly, in some way. Some of you may even have been impacted by it in its most extreme form. Those of you who have and, quite frankly those who have not, know that shunning or avoidance is not the answer. In fact the opposite is true - be there, talk, communicate, is some of the best help we can provide.

If you want, you can check the site of the National Foundation for Suicide Prevention, or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, but I challenge everyone who reads this to do a search of the internet, do some research, even if it is a single site where you can find out what to do, how to help someone in need, it will make my day. And maybe the day of someone else. While the link above is a national organization, chances are there is another one in your own locale, where you can find specific information, or even help.

Take care of yourselves, take care of each other, I want to know that you will be back here tomorrow. #StopSuicide