LONG TIME NO SEE!

So here's the deal... I've stopped blogging due to time constraints, lack of committment, etc. Except that I've joined TWLOHA's fancorps and one of their 'orders' is to write a blog about suicide prevention. As most of you know, I'm a huge TWLOHA fan and I've even signed up for the IM Alive Beta Testing program... (I really hope I'm accepted!). I've also just received my 2nd TWLOHA order of clothing/stickers/pins and I'm psyched to wear them/put then on everything I own!

I've also joined the TWLOHA cause on facebook + have been using www.socialvibe.com to support TWLOHA. I urge everyone to do the same! (free and super easy to help!).

Back to the post that I should be writing about:

Although National Suicide Prevention Week is September 6-12, it's obviously a very important subject to discuss. Especially in light of the current economic crisis and the numerous stories of individuals attempting to taking their life due to the unfortunate, unforseeable and highly volatile nature of the stock market.

Here are some facts you should know about suicide (from the World Health Organization:

• Every year, almost one million people die from suicide; a "global" mortality rate of 16 per 100,000, or one death every 40 seconds.
• In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 years in some countries, and the second leading cause of death in the 10-24 years age group; these figures do not include suicide attempts which are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicide.
• Suicide worldwide is estimated to represent 1.8% of the total global burden of disease in 1998, and 2.4% in countries with market and former socialist economies in 2020.
• Although traditionally suicide rates have been highest among the male elderly, rates among young people have been increasing to such an extent that they are now the group at highest risk in a third of countries, in both developed and developing countries.
• Mental disorders (particularly depression and alcohol use disorders) are a major risk factor for suicide in Europe and North America; however, in Asian countries impulsiveness plays an important role. Suicide is complex with psychological, social, biological, cultural and environmental factors involved.

Organization's like TWLOHA make a tremendous difference in assisting individuals deal with their suicide attempts and persuade people to seek alternative courses in dealing with life's stresses. While other organization's due exist, I believe that TWLOHA is the most successful in dealing with the a multitude of issues in a positive and uncondescending way.

Please help me and TWLOHA in our fight to remind people that they are "ALIVE" because "we're on [their] side!"