Hello All
Little did I know when I posted a status update/tweet this morning about all of the messages we get from you about suicide and hurting yourselves did I ever dream we would get this BIG of a response!
Our inbox has overflowed today with stories from so many of you about the things you are going through. It seems that to many of you suicide and hurting yourselves is the only answer.
I have personally been quite moved by your openness and honesty.
I am a perpetual happy person. I wake up happy, I go about my day happy and I go to bed happy. I know for far too many of you that's not the case.
So what is the answer?
I have been a strong supporter of To Write Love on Her Arms since first hearing about it a couple of years ago. I have 4 of their shirts myself and have bought and given away more then I can count. I wear them all the time everywhere I go.
But is that enough?
So what can we do to help?
I am going to take some time and think about how we can help raise more awareness about teen suicide and cutting. Should we join in helping an organization that is already helping to raise awareness or should we start our own organization and start here on the local level?
What can we do through the music we make and the shows/tours we play to help raise awareness?
WE need your help! Let us know your thoughts and ideas.
WE love and care about ALL of YOU!
Our thoughts and prayers are for each and every one of you.
If you or someone you know and love is dealing with suicide or cutting there are professionals you can talk too. Please don't hesitate to reach out. There are people who care!
If this is an emergency, or if you are worried that you or someone you know may be at risk for suicide, please call your local authorities (911), contact a mental health professional, or call and talk to someone at 1-800-SUICIDE.
www.twloha.com/
www.suicide.org/
www.save.org/
www.suicidology.org/
www.afsp.org/
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I'm like you Andy, I am and have always been happy by nature. I never felt the kind of pain some of these kids seem to be feeling today. I have alot of negative energy in my life from other people but I never let them get me down for long. It takes alot of faith and strength to keep going sometimes but I always manage to bounce back. I wish there was an easy solution to helping these kids but I don't think there is one. I have helped a few kids just by being there for them to talk to and letting them know someone does care. There is a kid on twitter that I talk to whenever she needs me. She has some kind of handicap that keeps her in a wheel chair and she doesn't really like talking about it so I don't push her but I can always tell when she is feeling really down so I always try my best to make her feel better by tweeting with her about how she is feeling. She feels like her family ignores her alot and she seems so lonely all the time. It breaks my heart that she is not happier. She is learning from me how to express herself more on twitter. She knows I express all my thoughts and feelings on there. I told her it helps me alot. I think it's working for her too. She has been doing it more and more lately. I think twitter is an awesome tool for these kids if they just weren't scared to use it. Expressing your feelings gets them from the inside out. I know some of these kids have alot more serious problems and need professional help that goes unnoticed.....all you can do is reach out to them and hope you can make a difference. I'm glad some of them trusted you enough to share their problems with you. You have obviously touched their lives with your music and voice. That's all any of us can do. The message some of these kids need to receive is that music can do the same thing for them that cutting does. Make them "feel"!!! Some of them do it for attention, and some for far more serious reasons. For those, offering them places to reach out to for professional help is all anyone can do. If more adults would take the time to notice when a teen is in trouble this problem wouldn't be so big. All we can do is pray that these kids reach out to the right person at the right time and receive the help they need. Before it's too late!
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