Last year, there were six suicides on Kauai. Already this year, there have been five. It is an alarming trend that brought out members of Life’s Bridges and Kauai Leaders Against Suicide on Friday. They held signs along Kapule Highway,
Last year, there were six suicides on Kauai. Already this year, there have been five. It is an alarming trend that brought out members of Life’s Bridges and Kauai Leaders Against Suicide on Friday. They held signs along Kapule Highway, waved and talked to members of the media with a specific goal: Create awareness that there are people, young and old, who have taken their own lives. There are more who have or still are considering it.
This is not an easy subject to approach. Some argue when you report on suicide, it leads others to think more about it. It opens the door to suicide. Some believe discussion on suicide should take place quietly so as not to upset anyone. We think the students and Life’s Bridges got it right Friday.
The more awareness we can bring to suicide, in a respectful manner, the more we can help others. Those ready to give up on life don’t always share their plans. They don’t tell others of their unhappiness and despair. They sometimes don’t believe anyone really cares and there really isn’t anything anyone can do. It’s not uncommon for people to be surprised when a person commits suicide. They’ll say they never saw it coming because the victim seemed perfectly happy, never said or did anything to indicate a feeling of hopelessness they couldn’t shake. Those talking about giving up say they have an overwhelming feeling that they don’t matter, that they don’t make any difference. We have to let them know they do and sometimes that means getting them help from people with organizations like Life’s Bridges.
There are likely more young people in trouble than we believe. One report had it that nearly 20 percent of all middle school students on Kauai had at some point thought about suicide. Nearly 13 percent of middle schools on Kauai went so far as to make suicide plans, according to a 2011 survey by the Departments of Education and Health.
It should be alarming when a guest speaker on Kauai, Nick Vujicic, senses there is a great deal of pain and anguish in our youth, and they are thinking about giving up. We should heed his warning. It’s a wake-up call for the rest of us. That’s why it’s so important each of us does our best to get to know those around us. Make it clear you want to hear from them. Leave no doubt you are there and want to help. Let others see in your actions and words that they do matter to you.
And speaking of Nick Vujicic, if you need inspiration, just check out the story of his life. During his time on Kauai in March, he shared his life and faith during public programs, presentations at school and small gathering like that at Ha Coffee Bar, when he spoke along with Kauai’s Bethany Hamilton. Both Vujicic and Hamilton have reason to be angry over life’s happenings. But instead, they chose to laugh, to lead, to live — and they have done that very well.
We can learn from them.
Life’s Bridges led by Executive Director Gina Kaulukukui is doing its best to prevent suicide. Kauai Leaders Against Suicide are doing their best to keep people happy and well on this Earth. Let’s support them. Let’s also be sure we’re doing all we can to show those in our lives they do matter, that they do have purpose, that they can and will make this world a better place.
Really, it’s simple. The best way to impact another’s life is to show we care.
