"National Call to Action Against Suicide"

Jason Mraz "I Won't Give Up" 

Should you or someone you know need help, contact the National Crisis Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

As I write these words, I am numb knowing that 17-year old Carlos Vigil took his own life in my home state of New Mexico. He was part of a well known youth center I enjoyed stopping by on visits back home. I always felt inspired by what the innovative things the youth were doing and the sincere caring nature of the staff always sent me back to Washington, DC with a new sense of hope. I write this as a message to those suffering in silence and to honor the memory of a young life gone to soon. No matter what troubles lie in your path, please know that suicide is not the answer. It does not matter if you knew Carlos Vigil personally, because every time a child dies by suicide, it is a tragic loss to all of humanity. 

From what I have read Carlos was a compassionate leader. He was a member of a well-known youth center in his community and just returned from North Carolina where he lobbied on behalf of anti-bullying legislation. So what went wrong? Parents and friends have shared how Carlos was bullied by his peers because he was gay, had acne, and a lazy eye. For me, this story spans far greater than just the issue of bullying. The death of Carlos Vigil sheds light on the illnesses that plague our society and the choices made to ignore them. As a nation, we have failed Carlos and the thousands of youth like him who felt this world would be a better place without them. We have failed to secure communities free of intolerance and hate. We have failed in providing adequate

mental health services and resources. We have failed to educate youth on what they should do if they or someone they know is at risk of harming themselves. We have failed to provide parents and schools with the basic tools and education on how to recognizing warning signs for suicide. If you disagree, I ask one simple question. What If someone told you they were thinking of suicide? What would you do or say? What if they did not say anything at all, but you knew something was not right? Would you know what warning signs to look for?

In his final words, Carlos wrote, “I am doing an injustice to the world and it’s time for me to leave.” What has this world come to when a child goes through life suffering in silence, only to feel that they have inflicted an injustice upon society just by being alive? The big elephant in the room that must not be overlooked and ignored is the urgent need for adequate mental health services. Without these safeguards, we cannot and will not be able to deter acts such as bullying and suicide. Focus and emphasis must be made to implement prevention and early intervention services for children and youth, starting in elementary. To do anything else only masks the epidemic of suicide that continues to end so many young lives.

As you sit there and read this, I challenge you to become active and do something. Let us not spend one more second pondering about how or why tragedies like this happen. What we must do right now is take what we are feeling and channel that energy to become positive agents of change. To merely read this and move on with your day, only repeats the cycle of thought that, “someone else should do something about this?” It is irresponsible to assume that the responsibility belongs to anyone other than us. So, today let that someone be you! We cannot allow the dreams, hopes, and aspirations of one more child to be lost to suicide. To do nothing is an injustice to the memory of Carlos and those who love him.  

Suicide ranks as the 11^th leading cause of death nationwide and is the fastest growing cause of death for ages 10-14 years old, with numbers on the rise. Suicide is a reflection of who we are as a society. Education and services are greatly needed, but nothing can be changed until we as a society begin to change. We must demand that elected officials support mental health initiatives and we must hold them accountable when they do not. We must demand that all schools provide access to mental health services and resources. Each of us

holds a responsibility to foster a less cruel and violent world. Regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, or economic status everyone deserve a life free of hate and violence. When we talk about bullying, it is hard to comprehend the amount of violence and hatred that seems to dwell in so many young minds and hearts. Causing harm whether verbally or physically to someone else through bullying should concern us all, because young bullies will eventually grow up to be adult bullies. If we do not address the violence and get those who perpetrate it the help they need, we will be doomed to face them and their hate on the street.

You do not have to be a mental health expert to help someone in need, just as you do not have to be a

doctor in order to get your friend help for a broken arm. The message I share is to do something that will help to make our world a better place. On Twitter, Carlos Vigil posted a copy of his impressive resume and listed his role as Freshman Class President in 2010; Youth Secretary for Homeland Security, New Mexico High School Youth in Government; and Youth Creative Crew Vice-President for the youth center he was a member of. His skills of public speaking, planning, conducting meetings and Photoshop ranked right at the top. Even more impressive was this young man’s personal objective, in which he wrote that he wanted to, “Participate in something bigger than myself... teach others to work together and be kind…chase my dreams and goals in order to become a productive citizen in my community.” As of July 13, 2013, we will never know what Carlos Vigil would have become. His death is an injustice to the world and a burden all of our hearts must carry.  Change can only come when we as a society change. The cure is in our hands and it starts with hope and love.

With love,

Ane 

Should you or someone you know need help, call the National Crisis Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

Please click here for additional information on warning signs for suicide: http://www.seebelieveandachieve.com/2013/05/do-you-know-warning-signs-of-suicide.html