Saying Nothing Says Everything

I think about the people who committed suicide, when silence became a prison, they couldn't escape from. When saying nothing becomes expected, and when we are to distracted to notice a person's silence, who do we blame?

Many family members and friends say that they didn't see any signs, any red flags that would indicate that the person they thought they knew- was going to decide their own departure from this world.

We want to think that the facade of happiness is enough, that the smiles aren't just a mask, and that the laughter isn't just a way to hold back the harsh words they can't or won't say.

But why? Why is it that so many people bottle up their emotions? Or try to hide how they feel?

Is it out of fear? Are they scared to be seen as people who may be emotionally unstable, or weak?

We must stop pretending that this generation of teens and young adults are living in an easier world dictated by technology. In fact, not much has changed since our parents grew up- the bullying, and degrading behavior still occurs. The fact that we ignore the silence, as "typical" behavior for a growing person, clearly indicates that progress has not been made. The vehicle in which bullying or belittling occurs may be different, due to techno-logic advances, but the damage is all the same.

Let us stop pretending not to hear the silent cries, not to think of suicide as a growing epidemic that we've been disregarding for decades.

Because the truth of the matter is this-- saying nothing says everything, and when a person isn't speaking out about how he or she may feel, or when you think there's nothing wrong, no 'red flags'-- take a minute to 'listen', but 'listen' to what the person IS NOT SAYING, just as much as you may be listening to what they are saying.

If you or someone you may know needs help, feels depressed or may feel suicidal, there are plenty of resources that one can reach out to.

The Trevor Project is a non-profit organization who aims to prevent suicide within the LGBT community:

The Trevor Lifeline
(866) 4-U-TREVOR
(866) 488-7386

Please know, it gets better.