You're Not Alone

-

I had an idea for creating this blog when I recently learned in greater the detail about Joy Division's former lead singer, Ian Curtis. It pained me to discover the torment he experienced with untreated depression and debilitating seizures, which is what ultimately lead to his suicide. Despite great advances in treatment and availability of services, the stigma of mental illness is still prevalent in our culture. This stigma prevents people from reaching out to others for help and treatment in the hopes they can figure it out for themselves or not be a burden to others by asking loved ones for assistance. According to the American Association of Suicidology, more than 38,000 people commit suicide in the United States every year, and it is the 3rd leading cause of death for individuals aged 15-24. 


Sometimes we can be own worst enemies, casting heavy doubt on our self worth and esteem. That suicide seems like the most obvious answer, not at all out of selfishness, but because people truly think others would be better off without them alive. That the pain can be so tremendous it can seem as if there is no other solution.

http://www.suicidology.org/resources/mutlimedia-resources/suicide-warning-signs


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Per “Dead” Ohlin (January 16, 1969 – April 8, 1991)

-
Image
Born Per Yngve Ohlin (sometime was referred to by friends and family as Pelle), he was later known for his stage name, Dead. Ohlin was born in Stockholm, Sweden and suffered from sleep apnea as a child. There are varying accounts as to how his spleen ruptured when he was 10 years old; some sources state he was in an ice skating accident and other suggest that the cause was from being beaten so horribly due to bullying at school. Regardless of how it occurred, he was taken to the hospital and was for some time clinically dead. The incident greatly affected him afterwards as he became obsessed with death and dying. It has been suggested that Ohlin had a rare mental disorder called Cotard’s Syndrome, in which the afflicted person believes they literally or figuratively dead; in Ohlin’s case this most likely stemmed from the trauma he experienced. Ohlin struggled with depression throughout his short life, which caused him to withdraw further into himself and display behavior t...
Read more

Dave Rubinstein (September 5, 1964 – July 3, 1993)

-
Image
Dave Rubinstein grew up in Forest Hills, Queens and co-founded the punk band Reagan Youth along with his friend Paul Bakija, who played guitar. They both attended the same high school in Queens (Forest Hills High School) as the Ramones did. Rubinstein later became better known for his stage name, Dave Insurgent.   After graduating high school, Reagan Youth released their first EP and toured the US with bands such as the Dead Kennedy’s, Beastie Boys, The Misfits, and Bad Brains on the Rock Against Racism tour. They were an influential band in the NY punk and hardcore scene and regularly performed at CBGB’s, even when they were still in high school.   Their music was sarcastic and political; they used KKK and Nazi Party imagery on their albums and sometimes wore authentic uniforms from the two hate groups on stage. Rubinstein was quite vocal about his views about being anti-racist and anti-fascist. Several members of Rubinstein’s family were holocaust survivors. ...
Read more

Jeff Ward (November 18, 1962 – March 19, 1993)

-
Image
Originally from Chicago, Jeff Ward drummed for a number of bands including the Revolting Cocks, Nine Inch Nails, Lard, Ministry, and Low Pop Suicide. Ward grew up with a family of musicians. His brother Jason played bass and his father was also a drummer.   While living in Phoenix he was in a metal band called Coven of Thieves, which he joined a year before his death.   According to Dan McGuinness, Coven’s lead singer, Ward was frustrated with how he was treated in the music industry. “Jeff wasn’t the kind of guy who would hold a grudge against people; he would still show up and play on a session if he was asked. But he’d say, ‘I can’t believe I have to call and ask for royalties.’ That was a big thing for him: that he would have to track people down just to get paid. I think it’s kind of indicative of the music business in general. It’s the kind of business that can eat you alive.”   Ward struggled with heroin addiction and became discouraged over his inabili...
Read more