Jun 12, 20227 min read

Even after the COVID Lockdowns, still more Suicides…

Updated: Jun 22, 2022

Joseph M Lenard (Author: Terror Strikes – Coming soon to a City near you!)

Depression and Suicide KNOW NO POLITICS and it may be far closer to home than you think/know...

Back in 2018 we had two high profile suicides with Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain in just a couple of days’ time, but 22 Veterans commit suicide daily (google: "Project 22"). Sadly too, those who serve as first-responders often fall prey to thoughts of Suicide, as well as those with Survivors Guilt from heinous Criminal/Terrorist Acts (as I discuss as a sub-theme in my book: Terror Strikes – Coming soon to a City near you!). My thoughts and Prayers go out to their Families. I have had several on-air, with local Radio Show hosts, over the Lockdowns about the spikes in Suicide attempts due to the even greater isolation of them and especially among teens. Why do I speak with local Radio about Suicide? I certainly do not often share this Publicly; though the local hosts know; but in 2006 I attempted Suicide via over-dose on Drugs. Obviously, that was not a successful attempt - as I'm still here. Every day and every night I still struggle/fight those feelings, so I know what they (and maybe you?) deal(t) with.

I had lost my Job and gone onto Social Security Disability in 2004, that led to Divorce, which culminated one night in 2006 that something just snapped. Note, others' situations will obviously be different, especially our Veterans suffering PTSD, but regardless of what may seem minor to you are major catastrophes in their mind and may lead to the same dark place and that Suicide is the right option. IT IS NOT!

For me it was almost surreal, like I wasn't even in control of myself as I took one pill (regular nightly dose) and then, just took another, then several, then a handful. I have no idea how much time later, I awoke in the Hospital. And, again I still, all these years on, struggle daily with these thoughts/issues.

This is something that can afflict male or female, young or old, rich or poor, whatever. I hope that Spade and Bourdain and their families have found some degree of "Peace." Hope you will join me in Thoughts and Prayers, and if you don't mind - if you could include me in those that I can find God's comfort and strength I'd appreciate it.

So, now would be a good and important time to reach out to all your family and friends and remind them how much you Love them and how much you appreciate them being around! You are not likely to know that someone in your circle is feeling this way. I can't speak "statistically" but only from my own circumstances/feelings, that they are likely to also feel that they cannot reach out to you - as you will not understand, or may be dismissive, or think less of them. They MAY, and why it is important for Suicide Prevention Services to advertise on TV/Radio, to reach out to a stranger/professional.

It is important to note and understand that even the most outgoing person may have these thoughts. Look at the Suicide of Robin Williams. Some of us are very good at hiding it most of the time. Look at how many Comedians have committed Suicide, often people use humor as a deflection of their pain or desperate attempts that in making others laugh and/or happy can help make them feel happy for at least some period of time and stave off some of those dark thoughts. Again, this is something I know first-hand, as I use humor as a coping mechanism and the times, I can make others laugh I can be happy in that moment.

I do not know if sharing this will do any good, but something deep inside me felt it important to do so in the hopes that it could/may potentially help even one person! I was, still am, ashamed and therefore unwilling to talk about very often (or put in print). I'm still rather uncertain about my decision to do so, but I feel it important that if there is even the chance, I can help one other person through reaching out with this then it is the right thing to do.

What you must recognize, or need to impart on someone else that may be feeling suicidal - every life has value.... If it is YOU having Suicidal thoughts, or you know someone having them, share all this with them. Don't let them DISMISS YOU, as they are likely to do, with the EXCUSE THAT YOU CAN'T KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE AND WHAT THEY ARE GOING THRU.... Share MY STORY... I am sharing how I have been there.... I know... Don't let them believe the LIES and DARK THOUGHTS that nobody cares and nobody Loves them - it is not true.... I still fight those LIES, DARK THOUGHTS, DEMONS, daily, and they will have to too... They may not see or recognize the VALUE AND IMPORTANCE THEIR LIFE HAS - But it does have value and importance --- just that your mind is trying to insist it isn't true does NOT make it true!! Again, I have been there, I still struggle, I can/do relate! Just because you don't see it daily or hear it from folks daily, you are appreciated and may be making a very positive impact on others Lives that you just don't recognize.

Let us use by way of example the movie almost everyone has seen: It's A Wonderful Life. In the dramatic portrayal the main character is shown and brought to recall how he made a difference - had it not been for his intervention a pharmacist would have caused the death of a patient by administering a wrong drug. That, clearly, is a dramatic impact. That, of course, was/is a movie! In REAL LIFE the influence and impact that people have on others lives may be infinitely more subtle! It may even be indirect! The influence and impact that one person has on another may then influence and/or impact another that may then have major impact on human life as a whole! I hesitate to use another movie reference of The Butterfly Effect, but it is an actual commonly accepting phenom in scientific circles - as that movie used very drastic dramatic effects to make the Butterfly Effect point, and again which may be far more subtle actions in real life and still result in profound effect over time or when expounded upon in additional influences/impacts projected outward! If you save someone’s Life, who then goes on to have a child whose child then goes on to cure a Cancer, you are partly responsible for ALL those Lives then saved. Again, every Life has meaning and value and the influence(s) and/or impact(s) each and every person has may not be easily recognized or easily measured, but the importance and cumulative effects - DRAMATIC NONE-THE-LESS AND FACTUAL! Do NOT let the negative thoughts rob you of that understanding and the positive impacts you (or your need to impart to someone else with such thoughts) have upon the overall cumulative positive effects upon Society. I don't wish to over-dramatize, but at the same time not underplay, the impact that small thoughts shared with others may play, that is shared with another, and another, that may lead to someone else that has major/dramatic effect/impact on many more people’s lives (without going into any speculative conjecture on what they may do/accomplish in Life - that you indirectly played an important role/part in - that would NOT occur without you/them).

It does not matter if the pain is physical, emotional, or both, you must try to be as understanding as possible and offer whatever help you can even if it is to ADMIT you cannot help them but you'll be willing to try and help them find the help they do need.

It is one thing losing someone to disease (especially quick onset at early age) as we can fight that, though may ultimately lose that battle, and have some time (even if brief moments) to help deal with that inevitableness. However, the loss of someone (or YOU just dropping from others' Lives w/o warning) is something your friends and family are likely to never be able to process and get over. Constantly having to live with the notions of why didn't we notice? Is there anything we could have or should have done? YOU are NOT doing those around you "A FAVOR" like those demons in your head may be trying to convince you!

Two very important audio/podcasts you can share...

WAAM Radio (AM 1600 Ann Arbor MI) THE DRIFT Radio Show - Suicide prevention show (060918 AUDIO) - https://tinyurl.com/WAAM-Drift-SuicideShow

WAAM Radio (AM 1600 Ann Arbor MI) - #MomentOfClarity Radio Show - TEEN SUICIDE PREVENTION SHOW (100519, AUDIO) - https://tinyurl.com/WAAM-MOC-TeenSuicide

1-800-273-8255 – Suicide hotline 1-877-226-3111 – Addiction hotline 1-844-228-2962 – Eating disorder hotline

1-877-455-0628 – Self harm hotline

1-888-640-5174 – Depression hotline Holiday seasons are often even worse, but not the only time people need outreach.

Joseph M. Lenard (aka: JLenardDetroit)

Born of the 1960s, very much a person of the 1980s.

Lifelong (by choice) resident Wyandotte Michigan.

Former Information Technology professional.

Political issues blogger/speaker/writer/vlogger.

Author: Terror Strikes – Coming soon to a City near you!

Social-Media (100k+ reach over) Before It's News, CloutHub, FreeTalk, GAB, GETTR, Instagram, LibertyCentric, LOCALS, MINDS, MeWe, Nextdoor, Parler, PolitiChatter, Rescue Michigan, Spreely, Twitter. Contact: http://TerrorStrikes.info/contact ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A bit about Joseph M. Lenard:

Joseph is very politically active in south-east Michigan. He is a MIGOP Delegate, a member of current MICD12GOP and is the webmaster for the MI 12CDRC as well as the Taylor Republican Club, as also a member of the Wayne-12CDRC and is the editor for its newsletter.

Joseph’s body of works contain copyrighted and published poetry. Joseph has written and recorded music, in the tradition of the Lenard family legacy; though not entirely in the tradition of his father Thaddeus, who was creator/leader of “The Polka Kings” that often toured throughout northeast United States.

In addition, Joseph has about a dozen copyrighted short-stories including Watchful Eyes (sci-fi), Blue Monday (political thriller), Funhouse of Terror (horror) to his credit, as well as one other novel titled, The Gestapo Kidnap File. Joseph was also winner of CJOM (Windsor Ontario Canada) radio contest in the 1980’s with his radio play “The Adventures of Detective Idle” based upon the Billy Idol song, Eyes without a Face, to which it was paired with.

He resides in Michigan. see too the full ABOUT THE AUTHOR page.

Joseph M. Lenard

Even after the COVID Lockdowns, still more Suicides…

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