Fell into a 90s/00s #suicide anthem music loop this afternoon and it reminded me of how depressed I have been in the past and how depressed I am now, again, and how much we still don't discuss #depression in this society.
#DepressionIsReal
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I wrote this a couple years ago.
It's a good piece on writers & suicide, with an emphasis on #LGBT suicides because we kill ourselves more (thanks #homophobia/#transphobia)than str8 people.

Society still romanticizes #depression instead of treating it.
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lambdaliterary.org/features/08/13…

Theme song for cutters everywhere.
Raise you hand if you thought you were the only one with razor blades in your pocket for...years.

#TheFray - How to Save a Life
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In 1995 I was at a peak suicidality--a confluence of things that led me to a breakdown.
It was incredibly hard to find treatment even though I was seeking it and knew how to do that kind of thing because I was an investigative reporter.
The system almost let me die.
#suicide
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On #IWD2018 the @nytimes published a "oops, we forgot women actually exit" piece with obits of women whose lives they ignored no matter how much they impacted society.

#SylviaPlath was among them.
Known as much for her #suicide as for her wealth of extraordinary work.
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More than anyone else we have the romance of #SylviaPlath's suicide at 30.
Thirty
Her mother & husband scrubbed as much of her real life as they could once she was dead, not having done enough to harm her in life.
But what remains is genius.
And life-affirming, not death love.
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Plath did everything she could to survive.
She couldn't.

But that was 1962.
Why aren't we doing better in 2018 for vulnerable people?

Why haven't we gotten better at saving people and creating an atmosphere where people can reveal their #depression and get help?
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Another #suicide anthem.
Because this isn't the way we're supposed to live.
Tove Lo - Habits (Stay High)

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Yesterday was the anniversary of #RIPBIG's murder....

But he wrote about suicide--because there are so so so many things that lead to suicide. This is intense.
[TW-language/NSFW]
Suicidal Thoughts - Biggie (Original Version)
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I just wanted to remind folks that we aren't doing fa as a society to help #depression/suicidality.
Girls are still carrying razor blades in their pockets.
Boys are still having one car accidents.
Guns still make #suicide easier.
Almost everyone has a suicide in their family.
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It's still like this.
Every day.
For so many people.

Under Pressure- Queen Feat. David Bowie
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We don't address severe and clinical #depression which leads to #suicide:

In 2016, the highest suicide rate (19.7%) was among adults between 45 and 54 years of age. The second highest rate (19.0%) occurred in those 85 years or older.
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Younger groups have had consistently lower suicide rates than middle-aged and older adults.

But we focus #suicide prevention attention almost exclusively on teenagers--who statistically have the lowest rate of suicide of any group.

We need to get better at this.
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Women are killings ourselves more.
A lot more.

What's being done to help?

Oh right--nothing.
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cnn.com/2016/04/22/hea…

Pay attention to your own #depression and that of folks you love.
Warning Signs of #Suicide

1) Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself.
2) Looking for a way to kill oneself.
3) Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.

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Warning Signs of #Suicide
4) Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
5) Talking about being a burden to others.
6) Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.

MentalHealth.gov
mentalhealth.gov/what-to-look-f…

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America's largest single demographic--white women--is in trouble.
White women more than any other group are seeking out slow and fast #suicide.
#Depression leads many to self-medication and more.

White women are dying faster all over America washingtonpost.com/graphics/natio…
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I'll probably put all of this in a column soon--Trump IS making us sicker and women 45-65 ARE the main actors of the #Resistance.

But I wanted to acknowledge the pain of everyone out there who needs help and isn't getting it, regardless of gender, age, race, identity.
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The next two weeks are peak suicide time, so be aware of yourselves.
In the fortnight following the daylight savings shift from winter to spring, is statistically highest for #suicide.

Suicides are most common from mid-March through April.
Be mindful.
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Saturday has the 2nd highest rate of suicides (Wednesday is highest).
Remember that alcohol exacerbates #depression.
Call someone if you are feeling suicidal.
That feel passes.
It does.
Call 1-800-273-8255
Available 24 hours everyday
Stay safe. Stay alive. You are valuable.
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