The world is moving too fast. WAY too fast. If we would just slow down, imagine how much more we could accomplish...on so many levels. I was speaking with a colleague this week about a young man who recently committed suicide. He was an outstanding student, an athlete, and connected to friends and family. Recently, he had spoken with a counselor. This was his first and only conversation with a counselor. During that conversation he admitted to having thoughts of suicide. He also said he would never do it, because it would hurt too many people in his life. They were thoughts, he said. He would not take action, he said.He did take action. At the age of 19, he bought a gun and killed himself...1 hour after he completed the purchase of the gun, he was dead. 1 hour. 1 hour later.
There were no signs. Yes. He was sad. Yes. He visited a counselor. Yes. He admitted to having suicidal thoughts. Yes.
Seein g a counselor was a positive action, not a sign that suicide was imminent. He was a "good kid". He was not a bullied, social outcast. He had a steady girlfriend. He had SO much to live for...but, he didn't think so. He is gone and the people connected to him are reeling from the impact.
The question in every one's mind is "Why?" We will never know. His scream, and the scream deep within so many of our talented youth, is silent. It is silent and it is deadly. Our young people are dying around us. This is an epidemic and we can't just go on doing what we are doing. It is not working.
We have to change. We have to slow down. We have to. If we don't, the self-inflicted deaths of our youth will continue. They will continue to kill themselves because we can't hear their screams.
