Looking out for One Another

By Levena Lindahl

It’s getting to be that time of year, with Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching fast.  Many people love this time of year, thinking of fun and family, and the general good cheer that is present.  However, this is also the time of year with one of the highest rates of suicide, which is why as people we need to come together and look out for each other.

I know many people who are not fond of this time of year due to family deaths.  When a beloved family member dies, it can be incredibly difficult to handle, and can sometimes take years to really handle or come to grips with.  When people get older and they have fewer family members still alive, each death gets even harder to deal with.  People don’t like being alone; humans are social creatures.  This year, think about calling or visiting relatives or friends who might not have many people around during the holidays.  An act of kindness can go a long way in preventing a suicide.

Students are under a lot of stress during this time of year as well.  Midterms and final exams are all taking place during this stretch, and sometimes the pressure to be perfect or to be what people expect them to be can make even the strongest person crack.  Be a friend; if you see someone acting unusual or becoming withdrawn, talk to them.  Let them know that they aren’t alone, that you are there to listen.  It is so important to just be there; sometimes just sitting quietly with someone is all they need.

This time of year is all about giving; think about giving some of your time to others to try and reduce the number of self-harm incidents this year.  A few minutes can change and save a life.