Suicide and Suffering – Army Veteran and Secular Buddhist on the Four Noble Truths

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This letter is dedicated to the memory of my classmates and friends and all of those who decided that life was too much for them, too tough, that there was just not enough will or strength or support to carry on. A post circulating on social media reminded me that September is Suicide Prevention month and that “there is always a better choice if one digs deeply enough…. [that] suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.”

Suicide Facts

Here are some facts I learned. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death, claiming 44,965 lives a year. It is the second leading cause of death in the world among 15-24 year olds and there are an estimated quarter million suicide survivors every year. (SAVE.org Suicide Facts). A person dies in the U.S. from suicide every 12 minutes.

These statistics surprised me, especially in the young population.

What can you do? Let me share a story.

Veteran Story

(Click here to read the story and rest of letter)

 

** This letter was published September 25, 2015 in memory of Pete, Janet, Kim & Scott.

Sep 12, 2019

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About the Author

Mylinh Shattan is a writer who has lived on three continents, served in the Army, worked in corporate America, and taught in college. She loves adventures, in the world and in the mind. Literature is relevant and learning is a lifelong pursuit, so you might as well have a bit of fun along the way.

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