Have You Ever Wondered?

Hey. Did you have a good festive season? I had a pretty good Christmas and New Year’s Eve (NYE). Spent time with friends and family, and that, by my definition, makes it a wonderful time. For many other people, especially in the Western world, this time of the year is basically the happiest time, the time when everyone celebrates, when everyone goes out and has fun, and takes a break off work. Shopping malls are full. Clubs, pubs, and bars are making tonnes of money. In Australia at least, the beaches, parks and sidewalks are brimming with people, all generally enjoying themselves. If happiness could be seen, the whole continent would be glowing if seen from outer space. Or so it would seem.

For many others however, it is the worst time of the year. The time when they are reminded of how lonely they are. The time the starkness of their reality hits hardest. The time when their unhappiness cannot be buried anymore. It is, sadly, the time when suicide rates peak.

So, is it everyone else’s fault that depressed people go over the edge during the festive season? Should the rest of us stop enjoying ourselves so that depressed people don’t go over the edge, literally? Certainly not. It is no one’s fault. But we can do something to, maybe, help the situation.

But what should we do? How can we help?

I don’t know.

Perhaps we can start by negating the pressure for people to celebrate festive periods. The kind of pressure that goes something like : "Hey Timo what are you doing for New Year’s Eve? ", "I don’t know, I’ll probably just stay at home", "Is that all? Come on, it’s New Year’s Eve, you don’t want to be some loser sitting at home now do you?!".

Or perhaps we can actually actively help. Volunteer at a homeless shelter or something.   

I don’t know - that’s all I have unfortunately.  All I know is that (almost) all life is precious, and (almost) everyone has something to offer, so its an enormous waste for someone to just end their lives.

So, if you’ve been thinking about jumping off that window ledge, you may want to rethink your situation. Trust me! I just hope I am not too late - statistically, I should have written this plea over 10 days ago… so, let’s hope if you’ve jumped, that you’ve survived with all vital organs intact!