Teen suicide has risen dramatically in the last 20 years, and one of the best ways we can help is to encourage depressed and vulnerable young people to TALK ABOUT IT.
Hey, I’ve been there.
I tried to commit suicide in my early 20s. The details are in a couple blogs I wrote in December 2016, and in my book. The bottom line is I felt NOBODY could help me.
Nobody understood how I felt, or so I told myself, so I internalized everything until it nearly killed me.
In this world of pretend smiles and fake social media portraits, many are under the mistaken impression that you’re all alone. Thousands, MILLIONS around the world over the years have been exactly where you are.
My son also came within a few seconds of attempting suicide. Thank GOD he didn’t. Here’s a pic of us, along with my lovely bride of 31 years, Laura, waiting to see a movie together.
Had he gone through with it, he would’ve missed out on a whole world of happiness and wonderful memories.
Had I been successful, my son would never have been born. I would’ve missed the last 25 years with my wife. I wouldn’t have seen my little girl get married or the birth of my grandchildren. So many memories.
GONE.
You can’t leave now, you have no clue how much God has in store for you!
Problems which seem monumental as a young person will pass, to be completely forgotten later in life. With youth comes raging passions of many types, but don’t get so freaked out by the darkness you make the unfounded assumption that you can’t survive the current trial.
The devil is real and alive and wants your soul. Don’t give in! You WILL make it through this, I promise.
The mountains of youth are barely speedbumps later in life.
Fight, and never quit! Realize that life has joy waiting for you, if you make the conscious decision to be a warrior and not give up.
Here is a list of phone numbers if you’re hurting and need to talk about it:
Christian Counseling Services-General
New Life Clinics 1-800-NEW-LIFE
National Prayer Line 1-800-4-PRAYER
Bethany Lifeline Pregnancy Hotline 1-800-BETHANY
Liberty Godparent Ministry 1-800-368-3336
Grace Help Line 24 Hour Christian service 1-800-982-8032
The 700 Club Hotline 1-800-759-0700
Want to know Jesus? 1-800-NEED-HIM
Biblical help for youth in crisis 1-800-HIT-HOME
Rapha National Network 1-800-383-HOPE
Emerge Ministries 330-867-5603
Meier Clinics 1-888-7-CLINIC or 1-888-725-4642
Association of Christian Counselors 1-800-526-8673
Minirth Clinic 1-888-MINIRTH (646-4784)
National Christian Counselors Association 1-941-388-6868
Pine Rest 1-800-678-5500
Timberline Knolls 1-877-257-9611
Abortion
Post Abortion Counseling 1-800-228-0332
National Abortion Federation Hotline 1-800-772-9100
National Office of Post Abortion Trauma 1-800-593-2273
Abuse
National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Stop it Now! 1-888-PREVENT
United States Elder Abuse Hotline 1-866-363-4276
National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (422-4453)
Child Abuse Hotline / Dept of Social Services 1-800-342-3720
Child Abuse National Hotline 1-800-25ABUSE
Children in immediate danger 1-800-THE-LOST
Exploitation of Children 1-800-843-5678
Missing Children Help Center 1-800-872-5437
Addiction
Alcohol Treatment Referral Hotline (24 hours) 1-800-252-6465
Families Anonymous 1-800-736-9805. Cocaine Hotline (24 hours) 1-800-262-2463 Drug Abuse National Helpline 1-800-662-4357
National Association for Children of Alcoholics 1-888-554-2627
Ecstasy Addiction 1-800-468-6933
Alcoholics for Christ 1-800-441-7877
Cancer
American Cancer Society 1-800-227-2345
National Cancer institute 1-800-422-6237
Caregivers
Elder Care Locator 1-800-677-1116
Well Spouse Foundation 1-800-838-0879
Chronic Illness/Chronic Pain
Crisis Numbers for Teens (Under 18)
Girls and Boys town 1-800-448-3000
Hearing Impaired 1-800-448-1833
Youth Crisis Hotline 1-800-448-4663
Teen Hope Line 1-800-394-HOPE
Covenant House Nineline 1-800-999-9999
Crisis Numbers for Help (Any age)
United Way Crisis Helpline 1-800-233-HELP
Christian Oriented Hotline 1-877-949-HELP
Social Security Administration 1-800-772-1213
Crisis Pregnancy Helpline
Crisis Pregnancy Hotline Number 1-800-67-BABY-6
Liberty Godparent Ministry 1-800-368-3336
Domestic Violence
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE
National Domestic Violence Hotline Spanish 1-800-942-6908
Battered Women and their Children 1-800=603-HELP
Elder Abuse Hotline 1-800-252-8966
RAINN 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention 1-800-931-2237
Eating Disorders Center 1-888-236-1188
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders 1-847-831-3438
Overcomers Outreach, Inc. 1-800-310-3001
Remuda Ranch 1-800-445-1900
Family Violence
Family Violence Prevention Center 1-800-313-1310
Gambling
Compulsive Gambling Hotline 410-332-0402
Grief/Loss
GriefShare 1-800-395-5755
Homeless/Shelters
American Family Housing 1-888-600-4357
Poison
Poison Control 1-800-942-5969
Runaways
Boystown National Hotline 1-800-448-3000
Covenant House Nineline 1-800-999-9999
Laurel House 1-714-832-0207 National Runaway Switchboard 1-800-621-4000
Teenline 1-888-747-TEEN
Youth Crisis Hotline 1-800-448-4663
Self-Injury, “Cutting”
S.A.F.E. (Self Abuse Finally Ends) 1-800-DONT-CUT
Suicide
Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-827-7571
Deaf Hotline 1-800-799-4TTY
NineLine 1-800-999-9999
Holy Spirit Teenline 1-800-722-5385
Crisis Intervention 1- 888- 596-4447
Crisis Intervention 1-800-673-2496
Broken People 
Reblogged this on AfterHollywood and commented:
The most important thing for me is that those around you know that they are loved. May this posting inspire you too. Why did it inspire me? As a kid growing up my Aunt Shirlee’s best friend’s brother committed suicide. My Aunt’s friend was never the same after that. Please heed this man’s advice. It is spot on!
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Thanks for reposting this. After surviving a suicide attempt myself, a great hunger for LIFE took over. Suicide rates have skyrocketed, especially among young people, and I for one REFUSE to just sit idly by while these precious souls fade away.
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My 22 year old daughter tried to kill herself and I stepped in and saved her life. The biggest thing of all is that the drugs they had my grown daughter on were making her crazy. That was part of my responsibility was to be her advocate and get her home safe and sound. God bless you Rob. Stand tall and be strong!
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Wow, thank goodness you were there for her. Many are not so lucky, or do not take advantage of friends and loved ones around them. Several years ago my uncle called me, strung out on drugs and in a terrible state, and said, “If you don’t talk me out of it, I’m gonna kill myself tonight.” YEESH, talk about pressure. Thank God I was able to talk him out of it, and he is now a licensed drug and alcohol mentor and advocate. There is much darkness in this world, and I feel it’s our duty to fight it with all our might!
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What happened to our daughter really divided our family because everyone else thought she should just live in an institution, over my dead body. So many of us are broken, and since I am not one of them, I love to help others. Peace…and thanks again for reading my blog.
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