Cara Anna, inspired by the Ted talk seen above, hopes more suicide-attempt survivors “come out” about their experiences:
For me, not being able to see anyone like myself talking about feeling suicidal only made me feel more suicidal, because it was easy to tell myself that I was a loser. What if we were encouraged to come out? What if there were a national campaign that built on JD’s speech, featuring the lawyers among us, the doctors, the artists, the tech workers, the grad students, the people who know so well the enormous effort of gritting their teeth and saying to colleagues and the world, “I feel fine?” …
I started Talking About Suicide with the goal of putting all the resources I could find, like JD’s video, in one place. It began with the nervous interview of another “out” attempt survivor, and it now features more than 50 conversations. Everyone has been direct and fascinating. Only once, briefly, has someone cried. The American Association of Suicidology took notice, and Attempt Survivors launched a year ago with essays, videos and resources.
I love that people are finding they’re not alone. It’s a relief for them, and it’s been a relief for me.
Previous Dish on suicide here, here, here, here, and here. The thread “Suicide Leaves Behind Nothing” is here.
The Dish 