There are many ups and downs throughout life. It’s natural. Breakups will happen. Loved ones will be lost. Friends will fade. Although life can be rough, there are just as many positives to it as there are negatives. But when the going gets tough, suicide is not the solution. When someone brings an end to their own life, they are not the only ones affected. Friends and family of the deceased are broken down, wishing the words they could have said to their loved one were spoken sooner, rather than later.

Suicide is growing more common. According to the Suicide Awareness Voices of Education website, about 40,000 Americans take their life each year. That is a horrendous amount and all of those lives could be saved if everyone had the right help.

A lot of teens struggle with suicide, young adults are affected the most by suicide. According to The Jason Foundation, suicide is the second leading cause of teen death and four out of five teens give clear warning signs that they are considering taking their life. If anyone is showing possible signs, appropriate things to do are to show them alternatives, showing them that you care, letting an adult become aware of the situation. If anyone is speaking of suicide, do not take it as a joke. It is a very serious problem that could be ceased by showing love and appreciation for one another.

Not only is suicide a problem through the U.S,. but specifically in our very own county. According to the Lake County Coroner, in Lake County, suicides outnumber homicides 3 to 1 and each year around 60 citizens of Lake County take their lives. Recent studies through the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention show that in the past 8 years, the amounts of suicides are rising.

If suicide is such a terrible phenomenon, why is it that we have websites online that teach people how to commit suicide? Things that are a part of everyday life, such as sexual intercourse or vulgar vocabulary, are frowned upon when portrayed on the Internet, but websites that teach people how to make a noose and kill ones self aren’t blocked websites. Think about that.

Everyday people are deciding that life isn’t for them when really life is a beautiful thing. Although it may be dark in someones life, the sun always returns everyday and things will work themselves out. That is life. Giving a compliment to someone can go a long way, so always try to reach out to people you think might be going through a rough time in their life, even if you do not talk to them very often. It just might save a life.