Suicide Prevention Letters (Reasons to Stay)
Hi. A family member just told me about this amazing international suicide prevention organisation called "Reasons to Stay" that is based on letter writing. You can read and/or write letters to encourage people to rethink committing suicide. What you read is picked at random, and what you write is sent at random. I've read a few letters. They're so compelling and so beautiful. So heartful.
Here is a bit about the organisation:
This is the link to their website (when you click this homepage, a random letter will be loaded for you):
Here are two letters that loaded for me (to give you examples):
What a beautiful idea, IMHO. 😊❤️
Comments
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This is a beautiful song that comes to mind in the spirit of these letters - "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by The Hollies....😊
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If I were so desperate I wanted to take my own life, those letters wouldn't touch me.
In similar vein, local schoolchildren attached notes and pictures to a local motorway bring where there have been a number of atrocious death. If I felt that bad, I wouldn't stop to look at such nonsense.
I've known some very dark times though I've never wanted to end my life. I really doubt that the sentiments in these letters would save somebody from suicide.
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@Zipz I try to be careful not to be the representative voice of any group of people just because there just may be some common ground in thoughts or feelings or behaviours.
With that in mind, I can say in my life of struggling with suicidal thoughts for about three decades now, I have a range of suicidal thoughts and feelings. In the extreme throes, these letters may very well not reach me (I just found them and am not in an extreme at present so can't speculate ATM - fortunately). However, at the soft and middle range of the spectrum, which is where I typically reside these days, they do reach me. Profoundly. I am very grateful to those people who have made the effort to set up this site and to contribute. Maybe I'm the only one. But I suspect not, given the letters that are there without my knowledge or contribution.
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Everybody will react differently, but those letters or the pictures on the bridge might be the thing that changes someone's mind. I think it's a lovely idea and I hope it helps some people.
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Alot of people think of ending thier lifes because they think no one cares we live in a world where darkness is blocking the light i find this very moving all we can do is try its better than not caring everything is been stripped from our society mental health services compassion emphaty kindness in my darkest moments all i wanted was kindness feeling so scared vunerable like a child desprate kindness is everything listening is everything your time is everything the smallest acts can have the biggest impact
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The screaming, the killing, the fighting, the wars, the insults, the anger, the environmental disasters, the politics, the desperation, the starvation, the hopelessness, the helplessness...so much noise in this world... so intense...so indigestible
When hanging by a thread, in shutdown mode, the only thing I can hear is a soft, gentle whisper. It is the only thing I can respond to. The language of these letters is that whisper language.
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It really is it keeps me up at night how can people not feel it everythings changed we have been disconnected from each other broken down i was thinking today i wish i had a big family and we all lived in one big house helping each other we need compassion we need kindness not im all right forget about everyone else i will never turn my head away from someones suffering and in these times and times to come
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Catherine, I see a whole other dimension in this world that speaks in a whispering language, especially nature, like when I look at these trees and flowers I saw yesterday. Can you hear their whispers?
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Wow the last picture is stunning is that what you see everyday beautiful yes plants do communicate my mum told me everytime i pick a leaf it screams frightened me so much as a child yes when you hug trees they letoff sounds vibrations sounds of nature bees humming birds singing flowers blowing in the slight wind the sun on your face mind you its freezing today
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Oh the tree by the sea oh if you live there your blessed to be so close to untouched beauty not like here concerete city i long to escape
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Yeah, I believe too that all living organisms scream and whisper - and everything in between. The pics are where one of my cousins lives. I spent the weekend with her. But I too live in the city. Mind you, there is beauty in the parks, too, right? Not as much, but at least something. I always think of you there now, and others from the forum. The parks whisper too. And the pigeons and other birds on the telephone wires and rooftops. And the kitties roaming about the streets. And the doggies on walks in the streets. Soft whispers of nature in the city. So soothing amidst the chaos of the city.
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Well I'm off to bed. Another awesome source of whispers is music, like this cover by George Michael, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" - a perfect bedtime lullaby. Good night. Sweet dreams.
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Oh the original was my nans favorite song oh george micheal was an extremly kind gentleman goodnight
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Good morning. Your nan had good taste. 😊.
And art. The whispers are in art too....
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Good morning thanks for sharing yes she loved her garden too
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Oh yes, garden whispers. They're precious. So light and gentle and real.
And house plant whispers. I have one house plant and cat grass. Here is Angel with her cat grass. I call it cat salad. 😊 That's her nature whisper. She loves it.
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Oh how sweet never heard on cat grass before my ex husband has house plant thats over 30 years old !!
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