Let’s talk about suicide…

I’ve been reading a lot of posts about suicide since the sad announcement of Chris Cornell’s death yesterday.  Most of the information provided is assumptive, and not based on research or statistics.  Here are some of the facts from the World Health Organization’s 2015 dataset:

1. Suicide is not the most common cause of death; it is the 17th leading cause of death worldwide.
2. Suicide does not just affect young people; it occurs throughout the lifespan.
3. It is not just men that suicide, women do too.
4. Close to 800,000 die via suicide each year, with many more attempted.
5. Suicide can be prevented.

Why is suicide different to any other death?

Suicide is different because the person who we love chose to end their own life prematurely. That sentence on its own is a powerful concept to process, as it throws up all kinds of questions and emotions. It also alters the…