Sadly, suicide has become an American epidemic. On average, 1 person every13.7 minutes kills themselves. (www.suicidology.org, 2010) What’s more, 38,364 Americans killed themselves in 2010 alone –males making up the majority of those. Reports suggest economics, the unemployment rate, coupled with a broken Mental Health System are to blame. Some of those who commit suicide, want to “go out in a blaze of Glory” –taking countless lives in, a feeble attempt at final justice and/or fame. Sandy Hook for example: Adam Lanza, 20, killed his mother, Nancy Lanza, then went to the school she’d worked at –killed 20 children and six adults. Newtown, Connecticut will never be the same –even people who weren’t there, suffer from PTSD. Proving, people who commit suicide, leave a trail of devastation which lasts forever; effects which reach far and wide.
Mass Media play a role in “copy-cat” suicide/murder. Like rate-starving buzzards, they flock in to pick the bones of survivors. Attention is one of the items which feed the “victim”. When Columbine happened, media went ballistic –every channel in America, played, and replayed the horrible events of that day. It wasn’t long after, other shootings happened –a domino effect. These types of personality (Borderline/Bi-Polar), thrive on attention. It is their life’s climax to, “Be the next horror film”. The mass shooting which happened at a family theater in Aurora, Colorado –that nut-job is still getting public attention! Hell, he’s probably got movie/book deals already cooking. We must stop displaying the decay of society, like it is some best-selling fiction review! To a psyche patient, or media, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Might want to reconsider that theory!
Unfortunately, I’ve had dealings with suicide –victim and survivor. Last summer, while out watching the Sun come up over the mountains, I saw a car circling the apartments, its occupant looking concerned; so, I ask who she might be looking for. It turned out, she was looking for my upstairs neighbor –she hadn’t been to work, or answer repeated attempts to contact her. I called the other neighbor, as she had the key to the security door. I remember vividly, walking up the stairs, a cool chilly air-filled the hall; we knocked, no answer. As we knocked, the door slowly crept open, then…we saw her there, lifeless.
As we moved closer, slowly, shaken –her color was a gray hue –her hand grasping a cell phone. I called 911, while the other neighbor took the phone from her lifeless hand. It turned out she was writing her estranged husband –pleading for togetherness. As we waited for E.M.T.s, I scanned the room for clues; they were everywhere. All windows open (it had rained for two days), she’d left her Social Security Card, work ID, and, empty pill bottles on a bedside table –she’d tried to take her own life! This wonderful friend, is still living, breathing –back with her family. Happy ending; however, not all endings to stories like these, are happy. Although, the neighbor and I still have nightmares –she’s alive.
More recently, a young single mother, challenged a train. Many “small-town gossip” stories are floating around: Some say she walked right toward the train –screaming for it to end her pain. Others say, she laid down on the tracks, waiting for the end of her painful existence. This young mother didn’t survive –she was dead on scene. I was not there. In fact, it was several days before I found out. This young woman cut my hair a few times, very bubbly personality –never thought she’d end her life. What’s staggering, anyone ask would tell you –“Every time the train goes through town, it sickens my stomach!” Now, all that is left of her smiling face is, a small memorial next to the train tracks –and, a small motherless child.
We, as Americans, as humans –have to extinguish suicide; revive the Mental Health System! Most asylums have long been closed, most mentally ill end up in prison, or, killing themselves/others before getting minimal help. Patients are put on psyche drugs, instead of working on behavior and responsibility. What happens when they cannot get their medicine? What happens when Freud’s little “fix-all” pill, doesn’t fix all? What’s worse, because of Obama Care, these problems are exacerbated. Pharmacies, Physicians, and Insurance companies are in a frenzy, trying to decipher what their responsibility is, and what are they required to cover/provide.
Doctors, Psychologists, Dentists, and other health care professionals are denying Medicaid and Medicare –period. Some are quitting their practice; taking early retirement. There’s a minimum of a 14-day wait for Veterans with mental health issues –and, that’s an emergency case. Other Veterans can wait months for any type of help. The American Health Care System is bound to implode if, Obama Care continues –kind of like mass suicide! We must find a solution; simply because, our Government won’t!
Don’t let Obama Care be America’s suicide note!
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